
Book_L 



Old Settlers' History 
of York County 



and 



Individual Biographies 



Prepared and Arranged by the Officers of the 
Association 



JOHN LETT, President executive committee 

GEORGE B. FRANCE, Vice President "^- ^' ^I^^^^^^ 

ROBERT COPSEY 
N. A. DEAN, Treasurer ROBERT HENDERSON 

GEORGE F. CORCORAN, Secretary m. SOVEREIGN 



Annual Picnic held the Second Saturday 
of August each year 



1913 



^ \cz6i 



Dedicated to 
THE PIONEERS OF YORK COUNTY 



'Oh I tell me a tale of the early days- 
Of the times as they used to be." 



OF YORK COUNTY. NEBRASKA 



NAMING OF YORK COUNTY. 

Ill looking up early incidents for the Old Settlers' History, 
to be kept in the County Judge's office of this county, the 
first question was, why was the County named York? I 
first wrote to the State Historical Society at Lincoln, but 
could find no reason from there. I find from A, T. Andreas' 
history of Nebraska, and from the help of Judge Sedgwick 
in investigating the Journals of the first and second Terri- 
torial Legislatures tliat met in 1855, that one A. D. Jones, 
a member of the first Territorial Legislature from Douglas 
county, (and by the way Omaha was the capital of Nebraska 
at that date) was chairman of the committee on defining the 
boundaries and giving names to new counties, Mr. Jones 
X^roposed to name the new counties after prominent leaders 
from each political party; that accounts for the name of 
Polk, Hamilton, Butler, Fillmore, Clay and many others. 
Seward county was first named Green, after a senator who 
afterwards joined the rebels in 1861, and the good people 
of Green county petitioned the legislature and had the name 
of their county changed to Seward. The journal of the 
first territorial legislature of 1855 shows that the north line 
of York county was the Platte river, the boundary was later 
changed to include its present boundary. 

Y^ork county was named by the legislature of 1855, long- 
before any white man settled here. 

I next wrote to A. D. Jones, who seemed to have a good 
deal to do with laying out and naming new counties in the 
early day, but the letter was returned, and I learned after 
that Mr. Jones went to heaven ten years ago. I secured 
from early records the names of members of the first legisla- 
ture and wrote to (piite a number and some of the letters 
were returned uncalled for, and others were answered, stat- 
ing they could remember nothing of the reason for naming 
York county. A party suggested that if I wrote the editor 
of the Bee, Mr. Rosewater, he could tell me everything, so 
1 wrote, enclosing a stamp, and got no reply and he is a 
stamp ahead. I recently wrote to the Public Librarian of 
Omaha, for Omnha w^as ]\fr. Jones' home, and he was very 



OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 



prominent in its early liistoiy, in fact he liomesteaded the 
land where the principal part of Omaha now stands. I 
thought iliis Mr. Jones, who named York county, might 
have come from York, Pa. T received the following letter, 
which is t'le first ray of information as to why this county 
was named Y^ork. 

"To M. Sovereign, Y'ork, Nebr. 

Dear Sir: Your letter regarding information about A. D. 
Jones has been received, and we find that Alfred D. Jones 
was born in Philadelphia, January 30, 1814. A Nebraska 
handbook makes a brief mention that Y^'ork county was 
named after York, England, but gives no reason for it. This 
is all I can find. Am sorry it is so meager. 

Very truly yours, 

BLANCHE HAMMOND, 

Acting Librarian. ' ' 



YORK COUNTY. 

Topography. 

Y^'ork County is situated in the center of the most beau- 
tiful, and when all conditions are considered, the best 
agricultural district to be found in the fertile and far-famed 
Nebraska. 

Measuring from the center of the county it is ninety- tvro 
and one-half miles to the Missouri river, and from the same 
point it is sixty miles to the Kansas state line, while the 
Platte river is thirty-three miles north and thirty-six miles 
west in a direct line. 

The county is as near the center of the celebrated South 
Platte country as it is possible to locate the center of a sec- 
tion of country, the extent of which is so indefinite. The 
county is twenty-four miles square, and contains 575 sec- 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 



tions or 368,6-1:0 acres of land. Upon the "divides" or 
plateaus the surface of the country is very level and smooth, 
slightly undulating, and as one travels towards the streams, 
he finds the surface traversed by numerous ravines or 
"draws," but very few of these are so deep or abrupt as to 
forbid of cultivation. They are a natural shelter for stock 
and in days gone by were the favorite feeding ground of the 
buffalo and elk. They produce the veiy best of wild native 
grasses, and are considered an advantage rather than a 
detriment. The faint outlines of the "buffalo paths" are 
still visible in many places and the appearance presented 
would indicate that immense herds once frequented these 
favorite haunts. 

The AVest Blue River tra\'erses the southern edge of 
the county, running in a zig-zag course, the general direction 
being east and west. This stream furnishes excellent 
natural water-power, and there are now located upon it 
some of the best flouring mills in the State, three of which 
t;re in the limits of this county. 

Beaver Creek crosses the west line of the county near 
the center north and south and runs nearly due east about 
lialf way across it, when it turns southward and runs in a 
southeasterly direction until it meets the West Blue River, 
about one and a half miles east of the county line in Seward 
County. 

Lincoln Creek traverses the north half of the county 
from west to east and furnishes a number of good mill 
sites. 

The Blue River, the least important of the four water 
<^ourses, traverses the northwest portion. These streams 
are not "mighty rivers" but furnish abundant water for 
stock and drive machinery all the year round. 

They are skirted by a belt of timber, in some ]^laces very 
light, and heavier in others. The valleys formed by theiii 
are picturesque and very beautiful, in many localities 
almost enchanting. 

The soil throughout the entire county is uniformly rich 
and productive. The "divides" or uplands seem equally 



OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 



productive and fertile as the bottom lands of the valleys. 
Since the first settlements of the county an entire failure 
of crops has been unknown. There have been part/ial 
failures of one or more of the cereals, but there has always 
been a harvest, and after the first severe trials incident to 
the settlement of any new country have been surmounted^ 
the county has been more than self-supporting. There is 
a copious rainfall every year, and the soil and sub-soil are 
such that the earth is always moist just below the surface. 

Early Settlements. 

No settlements were made in York County until the 
location of the Territorial Eoad, in 1861, from Nebraska 
City to a point on the line of the "Old Government" 
or ''California Trail," forty miles due east of the ]U'eseut 
city of Kearney, familiarly called the "Old Oregon Trail," 
and more definitely known to early freighters and travelers 
as the Nebraska City Cut-off. 

It followed the natural ' ' divides ' ' of the county, running 
near enough to the creeks and rivers to obtain water for the 
ox and mule teams of the freighters. 

This historic "Trail" entered York County in the 
southeast corner, passing through West Blue, York and 
Baker Precincts on one of the continuous "divides" that 
across the county, running in a general course east and 
west, and came down on the Beaver bottom just south of 
York, and out on the divide crossing J. P. Miller's home- 
stead. Southwest quarter of Section 12, Township 10, Range 
3. Along the line of this trail, at convenient point for ob- 
taining water and fuel, numerous ranches were established. 
Five of these pioneer hotels were located in York County, 
the oldest being Porcupine Ranch, situated at Porcupine 
Bluffs, near the west line of the county. It was inaugurated 
in the year 1863, by Benjamine F. Lushbaugh, United States 
Indian Agent of the Pawnees, and was conducted by Samuel 
Kearney. It was also a relay station of the Overland Stage 
Coach, and twenty-seven miles west of Fouse's Ranch, 
located at Beaver Crossing, in Seward County. 

The following year, 1864, Mr. Lushbaugh also 




\KHVA FOUSK 

Settled in York County in 1865 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 



established a Stage Station, on N. W. M, 15—10—2 and 
placed in charge a Mr. Chapin, who kept it for a period 
of six months, when it passed into the hands of Jack 
Smith, who remained proprietor until the freight wagons 
disappeared, and its mission was ended. 

The McDonald Ranch was also established in 1864, 
and is named in honor of its original proprietor. This 
ranch was purchased by a Mr. Baker, in the fall of 3865, 
and operated by him until the close of the freighting 
business. It was located just east of Porcupine Ranch. 

Antelope Ranch was situated only a few miles east 
of the McDonald Ranch, and was established in the month 
of November, 1865, by James T. Mathewson. 

Next to the Jack Smith Stage Station west was the 
ranch known as Jack Stone's Ranch, established in August, 
!1S65, by George Chapman, but operated by him for only 
six months, at which time he transferred it to John McClel- 
lan, alias Jack Stone, and maintained by him until the 
Imsiness of freighting was abandoned. 

One would think from hearing of the McClellan Ranch, 
the Jack Smith Ranch and the Jack Stone Ranch, ail just 
down the Beaver Creek from York, that there were three 
ranches, but from information gathered from old settlers 
it api^ears that George Chapman first started a ranch and 
sold to John McClellan. Tliis John McClellan afterwards 
got into a fight with a, fellow and whipped him, and 
knocked the breath out of him, but the fellow soon got his 
breath and jncked himself up; and John McClellan said, 
"Why I thought I knocked you dead as a stone," and he 
was afterwards called Jack Stone, and the ranch was lastly 
known as the "Jack Stone Ranch." 

Robert Henderson, N- A. Dean and M. Sovereign went 
to the site of the Jack Stone, McC^lellan, Ranch, to verify 
its location, also to find the location of the Jack Smith Stage 
Station. 

Mr. Henderson, who ])ut in the first croj) on the Jack 
Stone ranch in 18()5, and lived there, locates the place where 
the ranch house stood, near the south bank of Beaver Creek 
and about 40 rods from the S. W. corner of Fred Whitcombs 



OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 



farm, the S. E. 3/4—9—10—2, about 4 miles S. E. from 
York, the Ranche was built of logs with sod roof. Marks 
of the buildings remain in the pile of dirt and an old caved 
in well. The course of the creek is very familiar to Mr. 
Henderson and he made no hesitancy in locating the exact 
spot, and by the way it is the exact location where the 
first white child was born in old York Precinct, our friend 
Mrs. Alex. Stephens now living at 815 York avenue. 

The Ranch stables were about 30 rods S. W. of where 
the house stood on the N. E. corner of N. W. V^, 16 — 10 — 2. 

Next the party proceeded to locate the Jack Smith Stage 
Station which was about % of a mile down the creek. 
There was no trouble in locating the Stage Station it was 
on the banks of a big draw on Sec. 15 — 10 — 2, this is the 
Station made famous by the shooting of a drunken stage 
driver by the keeper of the Station — Jack Smithy 
the victim was a driver in charge of the overland 
stage coach, and in passing over the road stopped at Smith's 
Station. He was, under the influence of "pioneer whis- 
key, "very abusive, and finally declared his intention to 
shoot Mr. Smith. 

With this purpose in view, he went to the stage, 
secured his revolvers, returned to the ranch and drew a 
bead on Mr. Smith, just as he was about to enter the 
ranch. 

Mr. Smith shot first, the ball entering the forehead 
<ind producing instant death. Our Mr. Henderson saw the 
fellow's hat with the bullet hole through the band. 

Near the site of Mr. Smith's old Stage Station, on the 
bluffs, a few rods south of Beaver Creek, on the northwest 
Quarter of Section 15, Township 10, Range 2, may be seen 
the grave of the first white man interred in York County. 
His death occurred in 1865, was tragic and brought on 
by his own evil intentions. 

H. H. Klone, an early settler, says that about the same 
time the stage driver was shot and buried near Jack Stone's 
Ranch a wagon boss, a stranger, Sam Tate, was passing- 
through the country and was killed by lightning in a 




MK. A\l) MIIS. JOHN AM)KI{S().\ 

First homesteaders in York County. Sec. 2, Town. 
9. Range 1. 1865 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 



titorm, and nothing" could bo found on his body to, in any 
way, identify him, but $500.00 was found in liis pockets; the 
parties who found him buried him by the stage driver, and 
as a compensation for the 500.00 sent to Nebraska City and 
procured i)a]ing and placed a fence around his grave, the 
fence is supposed to be around the stage driver's grave 
but is by his side and around the other grave. 

Mr. Henderson says he has read the lead pencil lettering 
many times as he went by the grave. This was 47 years 
ago, and the marker is in a good state of preservation was 
brought in by the party and left at the County Judge's 
office with other curios of early times. 

This was the first death occuring in the county, and 
;; I though assuming the form of a tragedy, Mr. Smith was 
justified in the course he pursued. This death occurred 
February, 1865. 

The party also found plain marks of the famous old 
P'reight Trail, that so many thousands of California gold 
hunters passed over in "49" and later years in their 
untiring hunt for wealth and other thousands of Mormons 
on their way to Utah where they committed so many 
attrocities in the guise of Indians on the early pioneer 
emigrants. 

The marks of this old Trail which brings to mind 
so many thrilling incidents of early times is on the banks 
of the big draw just below the residence of Mr. John 
Nelson on Sec. 15 — 10 — 2 about 4 miles S. E. of York. 
The emigrants used to travel in great companies for 
protection against the indians, and drove their wagons 
side by side usually making a trail two to four rods wide. 
Mr. Henderson says he counted 160 wagons of Mormons in 
one company, and it took them 3 hours to all get in camp, 
but in going down this steep draw they made 4 separate 
tracks, and came together in the draw and made one track 
coming out on the west side. 

The first permanent settlement of the county was made 
by John Anderson and his son William Anderson, upon the 
first homestead claims in York Count v on Section 2, Town- 



10 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

ship 9, Eange 1, and are honored as the pioneer settlers of 
the county. 

The early settlers without exception took up sites for 
their future homes in the timber groves that bordered 
the principal streams. The wild natural scenery of their 
charming valleys attracted and irresistibly drew them to 
their shady nooks and the priine-necessities of pioneer life^ 
wood and water were in abundance. 

The first settlements were made in the valley of the 
West Blue, in the territory now embraced by West Blue 
Precinct. The early pioneers in this portion of the county 
are: John Anderson, William Anderson, Nerva Fouse, 
Elias Gilmore, George Stubblefield, Henry Chatterton, 
William J. Taylor and David Buzzard. In the northwest 
part, J. W. Kingston and Philando Church settled upon 
the Blue River in 1870, and in the north and noi'tlieast, 
upon Lincoln Creek, David Doan, James H. Stewart, Newton 
Hyett, and John A. Mercer made settlement in 1868. and 
C. C. Smith and a Mr. Coon, in 1867. 

In the more central part along the valley of Beaver 
Creek the pioneers are John Kora, Julius Frost, Henry 
Nichols, William Sweet and Christian Bristol, the date 
of their settlement being 1870. 

A little further west on the creek David Baker settled 
in 1869, and the following year Thomas Bassett and Marion 
Shackleford. 

In the south and west parts, Fernando McFadden 
made settlement in 1866 on the West Blue, and Levi Wood- 
ruff (now deceased) in 1868, and also llie Hen.'ersons in 
June. 1866. 

In 1870, during the month of April, the organization 
of the county took place. The United States census, which 
was made during this year, disclosed a total population of 
640, one half of which had made settlement in the spring 
and summer. 

There was but one frame house in the entire county, 
the residence of Uncle Elias Gilmore, situated on the West 



OP YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 11 

Blue, and but one sclioolhouse, a sod structure, also located 
ujion this stream. 

One post-office comprised the entire mail facilities, 
Avhich was located upon the West Blue on the road between 
Faii-mont and York, at the residence of Fernando McFad- 
<len, established in the month of July, 1867. Mr. McFadden 
has the honor of being- the first Postmaster appointed in 
York County, and his euphonious name was also given 
to the post-office. At this office they were supposed to have 
a weekly mail, but high water, a sick horse, or some other 
incident often delayed it, and not unfrequently two weeks 
passed without any mail coming into York County. 

Large numbers of buffalo invaded the county in 
August. 1868, which was the last appearance of these 
animals in any considerable numbers. Their advent was 
a godsend to the almost destitute pioneers, who found 
themselves in a position to lay in a winter's supply of 
meat, and it is needless to add they were not backward in 
taking advantage of their good fortune. During this year 
(1SG8) the Pawnees, Otoes, Omahas and Poncas were united 
in a war against their common enemy, the powerful Sioux, 
and invaded York County on the war-path. The line of 
liattle was on the south side of the West Blue, about eight 
miles south of the city of York. No white settlers were 
molested, but the Indians skirmished here and there over 
the southern part of the county according to their usual 
mode of warfare. 

In 1870 there were but two or three houses between the 
residence of J. W. Kingston in the northwest part of the 
county and the city of York, and the settlements were scat- 
tered and many miles apart. Yet, those were grand old days, 
and the first settlers are unanimous in pronouncing them 
as such. They were obliged to make long journeys for their 
social amusements, but always enjoyed them. A tri]) of 
twenty-five miles for the purpose of visiting a neighbor 
was no uncommon occurance, and you may rest assured, 
those visits were always pleasant and agreeable. All were 
united in one common bond of friendship and hearty good 
will toward each other. A new settler was hailed with 
delight, and the neighbors (all were neighbors) would go 
fifteen or twenty miles to assist him in erecting his sod 



12 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

house, and giving him an honest welcome. The stranger 
became one of them and without the least formality. Such 
hearty good will is contagious, and no sooner did the new 
settler see it manifested than he took the disease, and was 
as jolly, free and friendly as the rest. Long trips across 
the country were not unfrequent, and little dreaded. 

The nearest mill was located at Milford, Seward 
County, a distance of thirty-five miles from York, and 
with their little grists, they made the journey in three 
days and often in two. The bulk of the trading was done 
at Lincoln, except lumber, which was purchased at Platts- 
moutli or Nebraska City, on the Missouri River. The 
many trials and hardships of pioneer life, interspersed with 
the numerous pleasures incident to it, from a volume that 
can never be fullv written. 



Organization. 

Prior to the year 1870 York County was attached to 
Seward Countv for judicial and revenue purposes. On the 
18th day of March, 1870, His Excellency David Butler, 
Governor of the State of Nebraska, issued a proclamation in 
response to a petition signed by N. A. Dean, John Anderson. 
William Anderson, Nerva Fouse, Elias Gilmore, George 
Stubblefield, Henry Chatterton, H. W. Taylor, David Buz- 
zard, J. W. Kingston, P. Church, David Doan, James H. 
Stewart, Newton Hyett, John A. Mercer, C. C. Smith, Mr. 
Coon, David Baker, Fernando McFadden, Levi Woodruff, 
Robert Anderson, Randolph Fairbanks, J. W. Wartz, E. 
Melick, Elisha Martin, Will Whitaker, Jim Whitaker, G. 
W. Vance, A. J. Gilmore, Jacob Gilmore and David Hender- 
son, the voting population of York County at that time, 
authorizing a permanent organization of the county. 

In accordance with this proclamation, on the 2nth of 
April, 1870, the people of York County met at the polling 
]>laces of the three precincts, and exercised their franc liise, 
at which election eighty-six votes were cast throughout 
the entire county. Of this number fifty-one were polled in 
Precinct No. 1, at the house of Uncle Elias Gilmore. Section 
17; in Precinct No. 2, at the old pre-emption house ot' A. 




J. W. FliOST 

First County Treasurer of York County, 



Nebraska 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA • 13 

M. Ghost, situated at York, on Section 18; in Preeinct No. 
o, at the residence of J. H. Parker on Section 34 in Thayer 
Township. 

A full coplinient of county officers were duly elected and 
the choice of the poo]ile resulted as follows: Edward 
Bates, Clerk; Julius Frost, Treasurer; George Flock, 
Sheriff; D. T. Moore, Probata Judge: \V. PL Armstrong, 
Superintendent of Public Instruction; Frank Mnnning, 
Surveyor; Dr. S. V. Moore, David Buzzard, Capt L. F. 
Wyman, Commissioners. 

All of the above officers qualified and entered upon 
the immediate discharge of their duties. 

At this election the county seat was located at York, 
In consideration of about 200 lots given to the county by 
the Town Plat Company. 

The first session of the newly elected Board of CWnty 
Conunlssioners was held June 4, 1870, in the old pre-emption 
liouse before mentioned, which was situated near the present 
site of the Rankin Implement Shop, just south of the 
public square. At this session the County Clerk was 
instructed to purchase, upon the credit of the county, all 
necessary books and stationary for keeping the county 
records, wliich was the first official proceeding of the 
board. 

Messrs. David Buzzard, John D. Reed, Julius Frost, 
and County Clerk, Edward Bates, were appointed a com- 
mittee to Investigate and settle the Individual accounts of 
the county with Seward County, and John D. Reed was 
also api)olnted Attorney for York County. 

The county was divided into three Commissioners' 
Districts comprising the following territory: District No. 1, 
Town 9, Range 1, 2, 3 and 4 west. District No. 2, 
Township 10, Ranges 1, 2, 3, and 4, west. District No. 3, 
Townships 11 and 12, Ranges 1, 2, 3, and 4, west. 

York was officially declared the county seat, and the 
County Clerk ordered to give due notice of the fact as 
provided by law. 



14 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

The second session of the board was held July 6, 1870. 
At this session the county was divided into three voting 
precincts, including the same territory embraced by the 
three Commissioners' Districts, and designated them by 
similar names. Shortly after they were given the names 
of West Blue, Beaver Creek, and Moore. 

During this month the first tax was levied, and the 
following March A. E, Streeter made the first assessment 
of the county. The assessment roll shows a total valuation 
of all property, real and personal, to be $22,464, while the 
total tax levied amounted to $2,920.04. 

On the 4th of October, 1870, Edward Bates resigned 
his office of County Clerk, and D. R. Creegan was appointed 
to fill the vacanc}'. On the 12th of this month Judge D. T. 
Moore, Dr. Thomas L. Myers, now of Aurora, and A. J. 
Gilmore, were appointed Commissioners to appraise the 
school lands of the county. At one of the closing sessions 
of 1870, held November 15, Judge Moore generously donated 
his salary as Probate Judge to the county and was accorded 
a vote of thanks by the board. 

It will be remembered that at this time a court house 
and fire proof vault were things unknown in York County, 
and no secure place had been provided for the archives of 
the county. The old pre-emption house of A. M. Ghost, was 
used as a court house during this year and up to the fall 
of 1871. Each officer was responsible for the records en- 
trusted to him, and was at liberty to carry them in his 
pocket, hide them under his bed, or make such arrange- 
ments for their safety as he thought best. 

James D. Houston and wife wished to transact some 
business with the County Clerk, D. R. Creegan, and walked 
to his home, a sod house, on Section 8 in Thayer Town- 
ship, and made their business known. The records were 
in a cracker box under a very low bed, and Mr. Greegan 
got down flat on his stomach to get the cracker box out, 
getting the necessary papers he waited on his customers, 
and then shoved the box well under the bed so it would 
be sure safe; in a few minutes Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Read 
came to him on some county business, down the County 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 15 



Ge;rk got on his stomach ngain and fished the famous 
cracker box out from under the bed and waited on them. 
This same Capt. J. B. Read loaned York County the first 
money that ever g-raced the county treasury, $6.35, the mon- 
ey was promptly repaid Mr. Read as soon as the County was 
able to do so, as shown in Commissioners' Record No. 1, 
at Page No. 7; a little later, at page 10 of the same record 
we find a vote of thanks tendered Judge D. T. Moore for 
his generous donation of his year's salary as Probate Judge 
to the County. Thpjse are incidents in the struggles of 
our early county officers with the ]n-oblem of finances, 
how different now in this year of 1912 the finances of the 
County are so swollen that it makes our "Sunshine Billey" 
look like the pictures of the great trusts. 

In November of this 3^ear, a new iiiail route was estab- 
lished from Lincoln to Grand Island, via Seward, and 
three new post offices were established Jin) the -county-ji 
named Palo, Thayer, and Aiikin's Mill, Ohancey Aikins 
served Uncle Sam as Postmaster at Aikin's Mill and J. 
H. Parker at Thayer. Soon at'ter this the citizens of 
York ])etitioned for a mail route between York and Fair- 
mont by way of McFadden, which was granted on con- 
dition the people pay for conveying tlie mails. Such a piece 
of economy on the part of a Postmaster General of the 
present time seems incredible, but nevertheless it reinains 
a historical fact. Dr. Thomas L. Myers was appointed Post- 
master at York, but the office not ]>roving \ei-y lucrative, 
he soon resigned and F. O. Bell was ap])ointed as his suc- 
cessor. He held the office for two years and was succeeded 
by J. E. Cochran, who resigned in a short time and Mrs. 
M. J. Hammond was appointed. 

At the first session of the County Board of tlie year 
18'1, held January 3, Beaver Creek Precinct was divided 
on the line between Ranges 2 and 3. and the west portion 
was made a new precinct, under the nai:;..^ of :P>aker, .AForton 
Precinct was also divided on the line between Range 2 and 
3, and the portion formed into a new i)i-ecinct and named 
Stewart. 

On the 29th day of July, York Precinct was created 
and the county seat made the place of voting. 



16 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

At an adjoiinied session of the board, convened 
November 2,1871, the county was re-divided into nine voting 
precincts, each eight miles square, named as follows, com- 
mencing at the northeast corner, and running west thence 
east, etc.: Stewart, Houston, North. Blue, Beaker, York, 
Beaver Creek, West Blue, Woodruff and Henderson. 

During this year the first county road was laid out 
along the West Blue and was surveyed by H. Badger. Soon 
after this a bill was drafted by Judge D. T. Moore and D. 
R. Creegan, making all ssection lines a road, in certain 
counties, including York County. This bill passed the 
Legislature and became a law. The provisions were after- 
ward extended to include all the counties of the State. 

In August, 1871, it was decided to call a special election 
to vote upon the proposition to sell enough of the town lots 
owned by the county to build a court house. The proposi- 
tion was carried, $1,500 worth of lots sold, and the contract 
to build a court house was let to Mr. Charlton. It was a 
fine building for that time but w^ould be rather insignifi- 
cient now. Prior to this time and the building of the court 
house, the records were kept in a sod building of one room 
adjoining Dr. Tutton's drug store and the sessions of the 
Commissioners held in the Doctor's store, who was County 
Clerk until the close of 1872, resigning December 2. John 
H. Helms succeeded him being appointed to fill vacancy. 

In the fall of 1870 A. J. Gilmore was elected County 
Commissioner to fill the place of David Buzzard, whose 
term of office had expired. At the general election of 1871 
Judge D. T. Moore was elected as delegate to the Constitu- 
tional Convention. Two hundred and eighteen votes were 
cast in the county and the following persons were called 
from the walks of private life to serve the county: A. B. 
Tutton, County Clerk; B. M. Elliott, Treasurer; C. D. 
Aikins, Sheriff; S. P. Buckmaster, Probate Judge; H. H. 
Tate, Superintendent of Public Instruction. 

In the spring of 1871 York County received its first 
proposal for building a railroad, Dr. Converse, Superinten- 
dent of the Midland Pacific Railroad, submitted a proposi- 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 17 

tion to the people of York County in which he offered to ex- 
tend the company's road from Seward to York if the county 
would vote bonds to the amount of $150,000, payable in 
twenty years, and donate the right of way. The proposition 
met /w'ith decided o])pcHition throughout the county in 
general but more particuarly in the southern precincts that 
received little benefit in the way of building up and estab- 
lisliing towns. 

While the settlers were fully aroused to the necessity 
of having railroad facilities and fully appreciated the 
advantages to be derived from one, yet they were unwilling 
and very sensibly refused to load the young county with 
a debt that would have been a burden to its inhabitants 
for many years. A si)ecial election was called March 19, 
1872, and the ])ro])osition accordingly voted down. 

In the spring of 1872 an incident showing the pluck 
and sterling qualities of the early settlers took place in 
the taking of a claim in Lockridge Township. A Mr. Niles 
Xyster, whose ancestors had never owned land, living at 
Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, decided he would own a farm and 
walked from Mt. Pleasant, Iowa to Lincoln, Nebraska, and 
looking over the map decided York County would suit him; 
selected an eighty and walked to Lockridge Township to see 
the south one-half, northwest quarter, section 34, township 
11, range 3, walked to Lincoln, made his claim; paid the 
]-equired fee, $14.00; walked back to his claim, made him 
a dug-out; put u]) i^ome hay; and walked back to Mt. 
Pleasant, Iowa, a distance in all of over 700 miles. The next 
spring he took his family to the homestead; found the 
prairie fires had bui'ned his hay, but nothing daunting he 
went to work hapi)y in the fact that he owned a farm. 

The annual election of 1873 gave the county the fol- 
lowing officers: L. J. Gandy, Treasurer; F. W. Liedke, 
Clerk; W. E. Morgan, Probate Judge; J. P. Miller, Sheriff; 
T. A. Parkinson, Sui)erintendent Public Instruction; Frank 
Manning, Surveyor; T. P>rooks, Coroner; W. H. Greer and 
Thomjis Burgess, Commissioners, and the following year 
of 1874 H. S. Burtch was elected Commissioner. 



OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 



The Great Easter Storm. 

One great event in the early history of York County that 
stands out most prominent of all, and never to be forgotten 
while an early settler is alive, is the awful Easter Storm 
that began the evening of Sunday, April the 12th, 1873. 
The spring had been early and small grain was all up, 
and farmers had their spring work well under way; the 
weather had been dry and the wind blowing strong from the 
south for more than a week, and Sunday, April the 12th, 
the wind quieted down and the day was j^leasant until 
in the afternoon a bank of heavy clouds made their appear- 
ance in tlie northwest; soon there began a heavy rain and 
as night approached the rain turned into sleet, and then 
to snow, then for three days and nights without a moment's 
cessation the storm raged in all its fury, with the air so 
full of whirling snow, it was impossible to see an object 
scarcely a rod away. Fortunate for the early settlers that 
their dwellings were mostly sod houses, or dug-outs, and 
in the place of being blown away they were more likely to 
be snowed under, which happened in many cases; in several 
instances the settlers took their meager stock in the sod 
houses with them and all lived together for three days. 
Many interesting incidents have been related by persons who 
experienced such a strange make-up of families, and 
although the milk and eggs were handy none have desired 
n repitition of the novelty. After the storm was over the 
neighbors who were not snowed in had interesting exper- 
iences digging their neighbors out of their dug-outs; one 
family that was snowed under in a dug-out held a conver- 
sation with their rescuers through the stove-pipe that stuck 
up through the snow, and showed them where to dig down 
for the door by running the broom handle up through the 
snow. The writer went to one dug-out where nothmg but 
the stove-pipe was visible, and hollooed down through the 
stove-pipe and asked the owner what he was doing, he 
promptly answered he was reading the B. & M. advertise- 
ments alDOut the beautiful climate of Nebraska. Mrs. Capt. 
Read tells us that Andy Hnnsen, a Dane, had a homestead 
on Section 32 in Thayer Township, and had built hin^ a 
comfortable sod house on the south side of the draw, f)-ont 
door opening to the north, and that he was away from home 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 19 

when the storm came, and that the storm blew the f'ont 
door 0})en, and when Mr. Hansen came home after llie storm 
liis house was so full of snow he eonld not find place for a 
dog to crawl in. In Thayer Township a band of Pawnee 
Indians came alon"- after the storm and discovered some 
stock that had drifted to the creek in the storm and per- 
ished, the Indians immediately went into camp apd remained 
as long as the supply of meat lasted. The Blue, near the west 
line of the county, was literally full of dead stock that had 
drifted as was supposed, from the Platte River bottoms. Mr. 
John Davis, who had settled in Leroy Township, did not have 
his stable up when the storm came, and his stock which 
was tied to the wn^^on all perished; much stock was lost 
iinder similar conditions. Our tovnsn.an, N. A. J)ean, 
liad his stable built under a bank; in mi;.' end of the stable 
weie two mules, in the center horse-, -nid in the other end 
hO;Q;s and chickens; the snow kept di'iflini;- in, and the mules 
tramping to keep on top until they got up to the roof and 
hroke through and went out; the hogs and chickens in the 
other end were snowed under at least 25 feet deep, and Mr. 
"Dean was surprised when on digging then, out a week later 
found them all alive and hungry. As far as known only 
three lives were lost in the storm in York County; one, the 
15 year old son of J. S. Gray, in Arborville Townshi}), the boy 
was trying to carry a sack of corn from the barn to the 
liouse, missed the house and was not found until the storm 
was over; the other two deaths occurred in Henderson 
Township, a Mr. Frank Kailey had built a log house, but 
liad not had time to chink it u]:> when the storm came, and 
the first night of the storm the house drifted half full of 
snow, the stove and beds were under snow; they thought 
1hey must go to one of the neighbors and they started, Mr. 
and Mrs. Kailev and their bain- l)oy, ]\Irs. Kailey soon 
gave out in the deep snow and awful storm, and Mr. Kailey 
tried to carry his wife and baby on his back but only went 
a short distance and gave up exhausted, then left his wife 
and baby and went for hel]) but never found them till he 
found their dead bodies in the snow drift where he had left 
them when he went for help. His homestead was the S. W. 
V-i of section 30, township 9, range 4. 

A project for building a narrow guage railroad had 
been advanced by some of the leading citizens of the county. 



20 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

the stockholders to be residents of the county. This created 
qnite a stir and some enthusiasm was manifested. It was 
meeting with some favor and endorsement wlien another 
proposition was received from Dr. Converse which ran the 
narrow gauge scheme entirely off the track. The second 
proposition was submitted in 1874 and demanded only 
$94,000, in county bonds in consideration of which the Mid- 
land Pacific Road was to be extended to York. The bond 
campaign of 1875 was a very warm one and meet with some 
opposition. Eleven hundred and seventy-five votes were 
cast at this election and the proposition was favored by a 
c'ufficient majority in the county, while the precinct of York 
voted to issue it bonds to the amount of $10,000 as an 
jiclclitional bonus. The company fulfilled its promises and 
the first train reached York in August, 1877. In the fall 
cf 1875, at the general election, Liedke, Gaudy, Miller and 
Brooks were re-elected. W. B. Cummins, Probate Judge; 
J. E. Cochran, Superintendent of Public Instruction; A. B. 
Codding, Surveyor; 

At this election Hon. George W. Post, at this time a 
young and promising member of the York bar, was elected 
Judge of the Fourth Judicial District, and was re-elected 
m 1879. The first representatives to the State Legislature 
from York County were elected in 1876. The Senatorial 
District included York and Hamilton counties. 

Well known men such as Hon. S. V. Moore and Hon. Lee 
liOve were chosen to serve the people as Representatives, 
and Hon. W. M. Knapp as Senator. Benjamin Woolman was 
this year elected Commissioner. 

In 1877 Messrs. F. W. Liedke, J. P. Miller, L. J. Gaudy, 
W. B. Cummins, J. E. Cochran, and A. B. Codding were 
re-elected, and Thomas Gray as Commissix)ner 

At the general election in 1878, AY. T. Scott and W. H. 
Keckley were elected to the State Legislature and F. W. 
Liedke as State Auditor. Mr. Liedke resigned his position 
as County Clerk, and the Commissioners appointed Hon. 
Lee Love to fill the vacancy caused. 

At the election of county officers for 1879, AY. B. 
Cummins, J. P. Miller and A. B. Codding were again re- 
elected. J. A. Fatherly was elected County Clerk; A. J. 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 21 

Bell, District Clerk, E. E. Armor, Superintendent of Public 
Instruction, and Charles W. Wullbrandt, Commissioner. 

In the fall of 1880 Hon. S. V. Moore and Albert Wilsey 
were elected as Representatives; Martin Burns as State 
Senator, and Jesse Love, County Commissioner. 

The election of 1881 i^-ave the county the services of 
the efficient officials who were elected as follows: 
Milton Sovereign, Clerk; J. W. Bennett, Treasurer; W. VV. 
Giffen, County Judge; James H. Hamilton, Sheriff; E. E. 
Armor, Superintendent Public Instruction; A. B. Codding, 
Surveyor; J. W. Wells, M. D., Coroner; S. A. Myers, Com- 
missoiner. 

In the spring of 1873 the county was encumbered by 
a debt of $44,000 caused by the erection of bridges and other 
internal im]irovements, and funded its debts by issuing 
bonds, to that amount. 



Ca-lamity of Grasshoppers. 

In the latter p-tirt of July, 187() the early settlers were 
visited by a new and unlooked for calamity of grasshoppers. 
In the afternoon of a hot day, July the 20th, a mysterious 
cloud a]3peaied in the northern horizon, and all were wond- 
ering what it was, until suddenly the awful cloud of grass- 
lioppers covered the country, so thick at times that the sun 
was darkened, and all gardens and green vegetation was 
soon devoured; much of the small grain was in the shock 
and mostly saved, to the great comfort of the pioneer 
settlers; the grain that was standing was soon ruined, the 
grasshoi)pers would bite the straw off just below the head; 
after they had done all the damage they could they tilled 
the ground with eggs and left. The next spring the eggs 
began hatching, and the settlers were filled with alarm 
for the coming crops, and every device imaginable was made 
for catching young grasshoppers; a petition was filed with 
the County Board of Supervisors asking them to take meas- 
ures to exterminate the young grasshop])ers; the County 
Board met in s])ecial session Ai)ril 25th, 1877, and Book 
No. 1, page 470 shows the following proceedings: 



22 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

"After deliberating- upon the subject, the following 
resolution was adopted by the Board, to-wit: 

"Whereas, the grasshoppers are now hatching out in 
large numbers, and believing that the interests of the 
county demand an immediate action by the Board of County 
Commissioners to encourage the destruction of these pests, 
it is hereby resolved by the Board of County Commis- 
sioners: 1st, That all persons in the county are hereby 
called upon to turn out and kill and destroy grasshoppers. 
2nd, That for all grasshoppers caught and killed within 
the limits of the several Road Districts in the county and 
delivered to the respective Eoad Supervisors, the Super- 
visors shall give his receipt, stating the amount, when and 
by whom delivered. 3rd, Supervisors shall receive and 
receipt for grasshoppers every Friday afternoon, and shall 
at once annihilate them by burning. 4th, On or before the 
I'nd day of July each Supervisor shall make and return to 
this Board, in writing and under oath, the amount of -grass- 
hoppers delivered to and burned by them. 5tli, Tlie holders 
of Supervisors receipts shall be entitled to ]:)ay by the 
County Board as follows: for grasshoppers delivered on 
or before May 18tli, 1877 the &uni of Two Dollars per bushel, 
in county warrants, and for grasshoppers delivered after 
that date, and on or before June 1st, 1877, the suiri of 
One Hollar per bushel, in county warrants." 

August 11th, 1877 we find the following jiroieedings in 
Book No. 2 at page 15: 

"The following accounts were audited and allowed by 
tlie Board, to-wit: 

Jas. Seaman 2 bu. grasshoppers burned. $4.00 

J. P. Gandy 2 " " " 4.00 

F. M. Ross 1 " " " 2.00 

S. E. Gandy V2 " '' " 1.00 

L. J. Gandy 1 " " " 2.00 

W. Young 11/2'' '' " 3.50 

Jamieson 1/2 " " " 1.50 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 23 

H. Kelley 2 '' '' '' 2.00 

Board adjourned, 

H. S. BUHTCH, 
Attest: D. DO AN, 

F. W. LIP]DKE, B. WOLLM;^N, 

County Clerk. County Cortiniissi oners." 

The Village of York was at that time liberal, patriotic 
and interested in the i^rosperity of the county as a whole, 
and procured devices for catching grasshoppers and used 
them in the town and country, catching great quantities of 
grasshoppers and piling them upon the court house square 
in great piles and burning them free of charge. Mr. H. C. 
Kleinschmidt tells us he has seen grasshopper piles on the 
public square nearly four feet high when they were small, 
and that a bushel of young grasshoppers would make more 
than a hundred bushels of grown grasshoppers, that one 
grasshopper egg would hatch out five or six young grass- 
hoppers. 

Much sympathy was created in the cities east of us by 
reports of the needs of the early settlers, and wheat, corn, 
flour, potatoes, beans and many things that were badly 
needed and greatly appreciated by the old settlers were 
received, and car loads of clothing, consisting of swallow- 
tail coats, plug hats, (]uaker bonnets, hoo]) skirts and other 
old cast-off clothing was received that furnished a great 
deal of amusement to the old settlers, and was a great relief 
to the donors, and brought in free by the railway company. 

The long, cold, wet spells contributed by a kind Provid- 
ence, did more to rid the country of the grasshoppers than 
all the devices of man. 

The misfortunes of the early settlers created a bond 
of sympathy destroyed selfishness, and made all friends 
and neighbors. 



County Roster. 

The following is the roster of county officials from the 
organization of the county up to 1881. 



24 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 



1870. Commissioners — David Buzzard, S. N. Moore, 
L. F. Wyman, A. J. Gilmore, October 13, 1870; D. T. 
Moore, Probate Judge; J. W. Frost, Treasurer; Edward 
Bates, Clerk; D. R. Cuegan, appointed clerk Occtober 6; 
George Flock- Sheriff; W. H. Armstrong, Superintendent 
Public Instruction; Randolph Fairbanks, Coroner; Frank 
Manning, Surveyor. 

1871-72. Commissioners — A. J. Gilmore, L. F. Wyman, 
Andrew Houston, J. H. Stewart (1872), S. P. Buckmaster, 
Probate Judge; B. M. Elliott, Treasurer; A. B. Tutton, 
Clerk; John H. Helms, appointed December 2, 1872; H. H. 
Tate, Superintendent Public Instruction; Randolph Fair- 
banks, Coroner; F. Connelly, Surveyor. 

1873-74. Commissioners — James H. Stewart, Thom- 
Burgess, H. Burtch (1874), L. F. Wyman, W. 
H. Greer, O. C. Harris, appointed June 7, 1873; 
W. E. Morgan, Probate Judge; L. J. Gandy, Treasurer; 
F. W. Liedke, Clerk; C. D. Aikins, Sheriff; T. A. Parkinson, 
Superintendent Public Instruction; F. Brooks, Coroner; A. 
B. Codding, Surveyor. 

1875-76. Commissioners — W. H. Greer, Thomas Bur- 
gess, H. S. Burtch, David Doan (1876), William B. Cum- 
inins. Probate Judge; L. J. Gandy, Treasurer; F, W. Liedke, 
Clerk; James P. Miller, Sheriff; J. E. Cochran, Superinten- 
dent Public Instruction; Francis Brooks, Coroner; A .B. 
Codding, Surveyor; W. M. Knapp (1876), Senator; S. Y. 
Moore and Lee Love (1876), Representatives. 

1877-78 Commissioners — H. S. Burtch, David Doan, 
Benjamin Woolman, Thomas Gray (1878), W. B. Cummins, 
County Judge; E. S. Connelly, appointed February 4, 1878; 
L. J. Gandy, Treasurer; F. W. J^iedke, Clerk; J. JP. Miller, 
Sheriff; J. E. Cochran, Superintendent Public Instniction; 
William H. Kecklev, Coroner; A. W. Codding, Survevor; W. 
T. Scott (1878), W. H. KECKLEY (1878), Representatives. 

1879-80. Commissioners — Benjamin Woolman, Thom- 
as Gray, A. C. Eberhart, Charles Wullbrandt (1880), W. B. 
Cummins, County Judge; L. J. Gandy, Treasurer; John A. 
Fatherly, Clerk;" A. J. Bell, District Clerk; J. P. Miller, 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 25 

Sheriff; E. E. Armor, Superintendent Public Instruction; 
C'harles LeCount, Coroner; A. B. Codding, Surveyor; Mar- 
tin Burns (1880), Senator; Albert Wilsey (1880), S. V. 
Moore (1880), Representatives. 

1881-82. Commissioners — C. Wullbrandt, Jesse Love, 
S. A. Myers. 

Recollections of a Pioneer Pastor's Wife 

n\ MRS. \V. K. MOlUiAX 

Shall I ever forget my first sight of Nebraska, and 
my first sniff of Nebraska air ? We had ridden all day and 
all night in the close, stuffy sleeper, and about sunrise we 
arrived at Plattsmouth. Here, as was the custom in those 
days, the cars were put on the ferry boat, "Vice President," 
and ferried over the river. We stepped out onto the platform 
and drew in breath after breath of the glorious, invigorat- 
ing air, fresh and sweet as if from the plains of Paradise, 
life-giving as the elixir of youth. "Glorious!" I exclaimed. 
It seemed to me that with every breath I inhaled hope and 
courage. 

All the morning we steamed along the long rolling 
prairies, and about noon we arrived at the village of Lin- 
coln, then a place of "magnificent distances" and few in- 
habitants, giving no indication of the busy streets, tall- 
spired churches, magnificent schools and universities, and 
flourishing business houses that now fill our capital city. 

My brother awaited us with his double-seated "Nebras- 
ka surrey," not quite as stylish as the surreys of the pres- 
ent day, but more commodious and useful. Myself and two 
babies dined at the restaurant around the corner, while 
my brother and the reverened munched crackers and cheese 
on a doorstep near by (this I learned afterward. I sup- 
posed at the time that they were dining at some luxurious 
hotel.) After refreshing the inner man, we mounted into 
the Nebraska surrey and started on our journey toward 
our "home." I don't know what were the sensations of 
the parson, but I felt like Abraham when he started out to 
find his Canaan, "Not knowing whither he went." It was 
a glorious October morning. All over everything lay the 



26 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

palpitating mists of the Indian summer, golden in the sun- 
shine. Over our heads beamed the bluest of skies, while 
around us everywhere stretched the boundless prairie. We 
seemed to expand and grow tall as we looked out upon the 
sea of land rising and falling in undulating billows, like the 
waves of the ocean, while around and above us was the 
exhilirating air. 

Here and there appeared little black mounds, which 
my brother informed us were sod houses, and now and 
then a group of dark, flitting figures, which they said were 
antelope. Aside from these no signs of life appeared. For 
all that we could see we were the only lonely voyagers upon 
the boundless prairie. The reverend gentleman became so 
absorbed in viewing the landscape that he missed the road. 

The sun went down; the twilight deepened. One by 
one the stars peeped out, and still no signs of the little town 
of Seward, where we had ho]3ed to find supper, and a bed. 
About midnight, however, the hotel came in sight, and we 
were hospitably entertained by the landlord, who gave up 
his own bed to furnish us a resting place. The landlord 
was the Mr. Clough who was so deeply involved in the ter- 
rible tragedy which happened five years after in this same 
hotel. We were only too glad to stretch ourselves on a 
good bed, and we lay down to a dreamless sleep on this, 
our first night in our new Eldorado. 

The next morning, bright and early, we resumed our 
journey under skies as fair, through air as balmy as ever. 
At noon we stopped for dinner at a half-way-house, and 
here I had my first sight of the interior of a sod house. To 
say that it was not inspiring would be putting it very 
mildly. A 'dirt floor, roof of willows upheld by a big tree 
for a ridgepole in the center, wooden bunks built around 
the sides of the walls for beds, and to complete the picture 
a barefooted woman in a soiled calico dress. My heart was 
fast going down into the region of my boots, but I called 
up the spirit of my Puritian ancestors I invoked the Salem 
witches from whom I can claim direct descent, and I set 
my teeth in grim determination not to be daunted by the 
first untoward obstacle in my path. We were refreshed by 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 27 

a good dinner of bacon and eggs, coffee and hot biscuits, 
and continued our journey, to pull up about sundown at the 
liospitable home of our friends, Mr. and Mrs. Tagg, where 
we found a good supper and a warm welcome awaiting us. 
Here was a sod house, consisting of three good-sized rooms, 
a carpeted floor, plastered walls, and many of the comforts, 
and even luxuries, of civilization. Here we rested and vis- 
ited over Sunday. 

On Monday morning I drove over to our claim to see 
the house which was to be our residence, for a while at 
least, until we should finish a frame house which my brother 
l\ad already commenced, and which would be ready for 
occupancy before cold weather. They told us, though, that 
Nebraska winters were lovely, and that we had nothing to 
fear from cold or storms. 

I found a place about 10x12, half dugout, half sod, a 
dirt floor, dirt walls, and a shingled roof which slanted to 
the south. We had two windows, one on the north which 
I could only reach by the aid of a chair, the other on the 
west. Our cabin opened to the south. A sod. partition ex- 
tended through the building, the east half being used as a 
stable for the horses and cow. My sensations can be better 
imagined than described as I contemplated the prospect. 
To add to the cheerfulness of the outlook somebody had 
picked a chicken and left the feathers somewhat promiscu- 
ously scattered about. However, we did not stop long to con- 
template or moralize, but went vigorously to work to make 
the cabin habitable. We bestowed our belongings as com- 
pactly as possible, to wit: A cook stove, bed, table, and 
cooking utensils (which for convenience were stowed under 
the bed.) The rest, organ, bureau, etc., were put on the 
north side of the house and protected with an old wagon 
cover. 

The weather continued delightfully warm and balmy, 
and we were flattering ourselves that our frame house 
would soon be ready to occupy. 

It had been a delightful day in Xovember, somewhere 
about the middle, I believe. The sun had set in a blaze of 
glory. I woke sometime in the middle of the night to find 
my bed wet with what felt like snow and the wind was 



28 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

howling as if all the spirits of the storm were turned loose. 
The morning- revealed the fact that our bed was covered 
with about two inches of snow, our door barricaded by a big 
drift, and the whirling sleet made it dangerous to venture 
out. We were in the midst of a genuine Nebraska blizzard. 
To add to our discomfort we had only green elm to bum, 
and a scanty supply of that. I wrapped the children in 
blankets and quilts and kept them as close to the stove as 
possible, but their little blue faces showed that our utmost 
efforts were unavailing to keep them even moderately 
warm. Meanwhile the parson put on his heavy soldier's 
overcoat, and chinked up the cracks and crevices through 
which the snow and wind were making rapid inroads. 

It was, I believe, three days before the storm cleared 
so that we could get to the Beaver Creek, two miles away, 
and obtain some decent fuel. Meanwhile we whistled to 
keep our courage up, and emulated Mark Tapley, who got 
jolly in proportion as things grew dark. 

We had three blizzards that winter, one after the other, 
and we began to think that the famous Nebraska winters 
were a myth. Our baby had not been well all winter, 
and finally grew so much worse that my husband went 
about six 'miles to find the only doctor in the vicinity. He 
came back bringing no doctor, but a bottle of carbolic acid. 
The doctor said that was all the medicine he had. I thought 
he might have come, at least. I declined to administer the 
carbolic acid, but happened to remember a simple, old- 
fashioned remedy, which I had on hand, and gave, and 
then I watched all night in fear and trembling- But with 
the morning the little fellow seemed better, and the dan- 
ger was averted. 

We gave up all hopes of finishing our house before 
spring, and settled ourselves to remain all winter in our 
little dug-out with as good grace as possible. One day, in 
April, I think it was, my husband started for Lincoln to 
get a load of lumber for the house. I got a friend to stay 
with me during his absence, as he would be gone two days. 
It was a warm, cloudless morning when he started, but by 
noon the sky was overcast with clouds, and at four o'clock 
it commenced to snow, and the wind began to rise. We 



OF YORK COUNTY. NEBRASKA 20 

gathered a supply of fuel, got supper, and by eiglil o'clock 
there was a whirling, howling blizzard upon us from the 
north. We got the children in bed, left the light burning 
and put our clothing within reach, not knowing but that 
before morning we should be without a I'oof to corei' us, 
for the wind from north lifted our roof, and all night 
long it danced over our heads, and we lay shivering, ex- 
pecting to be driven out before the blast, ^iorning found 
the storm somewhat abated, and we were thankful that a 
roof still covered us. 

My brother had gone east to bring his v ife, a New 
England woman accustomed to all the luxuries and refine- 
ments of the east. The parson went to Lincoln with the 
lumber wagon to meet them and bring them up to their 
future home. During his absence my friend and E fixed up 
the cabin. We put down a rag carpet on the three feet of 
floor which occupied the center of the cabin, put up white 
curtains at the windows, and a valance about the bed to 
conceal the cooking utensils, washed the children's faces 
and arrayed them in clean gingham gowns, and then pre- 
pared what was for us a sumptuous supper. I remember 
that I had concocted some mince meat out of such odds 
and ends as I could find, and in lier. of green apples I had 
used all the extracts and -cordials that I had on hand. My 
brother had assisted at the oi»eration. In fact lie had been 
chief cook upon the occasion. AVe considered it a master- 
piece. This was my piecii de resistance for supper. We 
also had some canned cherries which I had brought from 
riinois, some gingerbread, molasses, and some fried bacon 
and warm, light biscuit, with coffee. 

We flattered ourselves that we were pretty ''swell." 
But, alas for our expectations! Our dirt cabin and fine 
fixin's failed to impress Mrs. (*. She couldn't eat any sup- 
per, and evidently considererl ilie "grace.'' which was said 
at table an entirely superfluous affair. The parson hmiself 
confessed that as he drove up with his dainty New Eng- 
land freight, the little cabin, with the pile of debris, and 
the cow in front, didn't look remarkably inviting. 

We finished our house sufficiently to make it habitable 
that spring, and moved in. 



30 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 



Some time in the spring of 1872 Brother Davis came 
up to York to hold a quarterly meeting. There had been 
a freshet, and Father Baker had ferried Brother Davis 
over Beaver Creek in a sorghum pan. In those days a quar- 
terly meeting was a very important event, and as we were 
to entertain the elder we of course laid ourselves out in 
the way of housekeeping. We intended to do things up in 
style. We had induced the men to put us up the inevitable 
summer kitchen (sod) so dear to every woman's heart, and 
were planning on a fine lay out in the culinary department. 
Alas for our hope! The freshet flooded our sod kitchen 
to the depth of six inches or more, and I helped get Bro- 
ther Davis' Sunday morning breakfast, wading around in 
my bare feet, in water half way to my knees. I don't sup- 
pose the brother had any idea through how many tribula- 
tions we concocted that breakfast of fried chicken, canned 
cherries, etc. 

It was sometime in that same spring that ano.ther inci- 
dent occurred, that might have forever put an end to any 
more pioneering. The snows had been very heavy all winter, 
and the roads were almost impassable. But Sunday dawned 
warm and pleasant and we were glad to avail ourselves of 
the chance to take an outing. Mr. Morgan had gone with 
the horse and buggy to the Buzzard school house to hold 
morning service and Mr. Mellersh, Mrs. Tagg and children, 
and myself, with two babies, started about noon in the lum^ 
ber wagon for Father Baker's, where Mr. Morgan was to 
hold services in the afternoon. We had a lovely drive 
through the fresh spring air, and arrived at the creek to 
find the little bridge covered with two feet of water. The 
bridge was just wide enough for a team and wagon, and 
one false step would precipitate us all into the water. 
We noticed Father Baker standing on the opposite side, 
jesticulating with his arms and evidently shouting to us, 
but our driver i)aid no attention, gave the reins to the 
horses, and almost as if by a miracle we passed safely over. 
We found Father Baker white with fear. He told us that 
we were the first to pass over the bridge during the flood, 
and that it was a wonder we were not all tipped over 
and drowned. I rode back in the buggy with Mr. Morgan, 
and we found the draws flooded with water and ice, the 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 31 

water often coming up into the buggy, while the horses 
went plunging along over cakes of ice and through torrents 
of water. We finally reached home in safety, as did the 
rest of our company, thanks to protecting Providence. 

Our larder in those days was not always as well sup- 
plied as it might have been. I remember one instance, in 
particular, where a scarcity of provisions was very embar- 
rassing. I think it was on Tuesday morning. We were 
then living' in our own sod house (quite a residence, by the 
way, of which we were very proud). We had a living room, 
bedroom, pantry, and chamber upstairs which was reached 
by an adjustable ladder which could be hooked up when 
not in use. Our parishioners had made a "bee" and laid 
the sod for us, and we had a very comfortable house. I 
remember that on this particular morning I had discov- 
ered a bedbug (T\:hisper it not in Gath), and had turned 
the house out of doors in consequence. About eleven o'clock 
I chanced to glance eastward, and there, coming over the 
hill, were a horse and buggy. Oh, my prophetic soul! I 
knew by the pricking of my thumbs that meant company. 
Sure enough, three ladies from town had come out to spend 
the day, one of them from Fairmont and whom I had never 
met. My first thought was, "what have I got to eat?" I 
made a hurried mental inventory of my edibles, and it stood 
thus: Meat, none. Butter, none. Fruit, none. \^jgetables ? Yes! 
I did have about one mess of green peas growing in the 
garden. I had some flour, milk and tea. So we dined ol¥ 
green peas, hot biscuits without butter, and tea. We had 
plenty of hot water, anywaj^. 

Time wore on and our little church grew and flour- 
ished until we were able to put up a church building with 
the aid of good friends in other denominations. In those 
days the denominational lines were very lightly drawn. We 
were not Methodists, Congregationalists, Presbyterians 
and Baptists, but a unit of Christian people trying to estab- 
lish a town and county that should be (Jod-fearing, temper- 
ate, and a synonym for the highest type of Christiantiy. 
I thank God that the work we did was well done, and that 
always the town of York has stood as a bulwark against 



32 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

the saloon power, and has been a representative town in 
the state for a broad catholic Christianity. 

When we had finished our little church the reverend 
felt that nobody but Dr. Miner Raymond, of the Northwest- 
ern University was equal to the occasion for the dedicatory 
exercises. We felt that we were laying big- foundations, 
and we wanted a big, broad man, to lay the corner stone. 
Dr. Raymond consented to come, and two other churches 
secured his services. The reverend and I met him at Fair- 
mont with "Tod," who was then only a three-mbnths-old 
baby. I can inform you housekeepers that then and there 
my troubles began. We were to entertain the Doctor, and 
he was, of course, accustomed to all the luxuries of a Chi- 
cago market. Butter was an impossibile article. Likewise 
fresh meat. I had no chickens, and the canned fruits which 
we were able to obtain were not palatable. To add to my 
distress the doctor was far from well, the water having 
disagreed with him, so that his stomach was all out of order. 
Hence our fare of fried bacon, eggs and sorghum was all 
out of the question for him. I think he lived mostly on 
boiled milk for the first three days of his stay with us. 
About Friday he felt a little better, and began to manifest 
a good deal of anxiety about the dedication exercises. The 
music, especially, seemed to weigh on his mind. ''Have 
3'ou a choir!" he asked. We confessed that we qualified 
to such an article. In fact we had a good choir and organ- 
ist, and both would have done credit to an eastern town. 
But I did not enlighten the Doctor. As he seemed to think 
that "no good thing could come out of Nazareth," I thought 
I'd leave him with his own opinion. On Friday evening 
the Doctor insisted that we have a choir practice. So 
about nine o'clock we went over to Mrs. Milieu's, who lived 
about a mile away, for a practice. The Doctor insisted on 
accompanying us, though we would very much have pre- 
ferred to have left him at home. Wo arrived rather late, 
and found Mr. and Mrs. Millen in bed. She got up and 
dressed, however, pulled out the organ from; its box in the 
corner, and we sang a little, while the Doctor took a sur- 
vey of the premises, A sod' house, dirt floor, dirt roof, the 
interior lit by a dim kerosene lamp! Certainly the outlook 
was not very promising. The next night we left the Doctor 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 3 3 

at home, took our clioir dowu to the church and had a good 
practice. 

On Saturday night we entertained fourteen people 
who had come up from the Blue, and otlier localities to at- 
tend the dedication. I'll never tell where we put them to 
sleep, except that the reverend occupied a pile of sacks at 
the head of the stairs. 

The Doctor continued very suspicious about the exer- 
cises, especially the raising of the money. "Where are the 
people to come from?" he asked. "I don't see any houses!" 
And again, "Unless you are a better man than I think you 
(Lire, "William, you'll never raise the money." On Sunday 
morning the little church was packed. Teams stood thick 
all about the place, and men were standing outside the 
doors and windows. After the singing of the first hymn 
by the choir and congregation the Doctor settled back with 
a look of solid satisfaction on his face. He preached one of 
his best sermons. The occasion seemed to inspire him. At 
the close of the discouvse the men and women from the lit- 
tle sod houses and dug-outs scattered over the prairie, and 
the men from the lawyers' and doctors' offices in the town, 
showed the material of which they were made, when out of 
their limited means they subscribed $1,100, and raised every 
dollar of the church indebtedness. 

One little incident, which gives a light among these 
shades, I desire to recall. The parson, after the manner of 
parsons, had tnided for a saddle horse, which he rode on 
his Sunday tours from York to Lincoln Creek and return. 
Xow it chanced that the parson's horse had been at some 
time in his life used on the race track, and was an animal 
of no mean pedigree or paces. One Sabbath, two of the 
young men of York, who have since achieved dignity with 
their years, accompanied the parson on his Sunday rounds, 
they also mounted on horseback. On the road home the 
parson was riding leisurely along, a little in front, when 
something yery much like a wink |)assed between the horse- 
men in the rear, and they immediately put their horses to 
their top speed. The parson's nag needed no spur. He 
"smelt the battle from afar," rose to the occasion and soon 



34 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

distanced his competitors. The parsoc always claimed 
that he pulled his horse up as soon as he could collect him- 
self, but the "boys" tell -^ dirl'orent tale, and have never 
ceased to relate how the parson raced horses on Sunday. 

I might tell much more. Scene after scene of those days 
crowds upon my memory. How we fought fire and flood, 
grasshoppers and famine, and above all whiskey. How hot 
the battle raged at times, till even the staunchest trembled. 
But God gave us strength to hold on, until finally victory 
perched uj^on our banners, and the saloon forces beat an 
ignominious retreat. 

And now the shadows are gathering over our pathway. 
The faces of the pioneers show lines of care. Toil and sor- 
row have whitened the once sunny hair. We are facing 
towards the sunset. Soon the places that have known us 
will know; us no more. But among the cherished memories 
that we shall carry with us into the Land of the Hereafter 
will be the memory of our pioneer days in York, and among 
those who shall meet and greet us in the Bright Beyond^ 
there will be none dearer than our old friends oi York 
county. 

Cost of Pioneering-. 

That the early settlers of York County were never mo- 
lested by the Indian is generally believed. The fear and 
apprehension which was constantly in the minds of these 
pioneers added to the loneliness and privation v\^liich truly 
called for brave hearts and strong courage, may not be so 
well understood. 

The following experience may serve to show the cost of 
pioneer courage as found in one noble woman and is writ- 
ten as a loving tribute to one of the best of mothers. 

In January, 1867, James Waddle leased what is known 
as the Jack Stone Ranch one of the landmarks of York 
County's early history. He left a man on the ranch to put 
in a crop and returned to Wisconsin for his family, wife 
and seven children. In June of the same year the family 



^^ii^ 



MHS. .JKXMK STKI'HKXS. 

First White Child Born in York 
rri'ciiict 



OF YORK COUNTY. NEBRASKA 35 

caine to this 1oin])orary lionic. The liiisband and i)art of 
tlie family spent the time establishing the permanent home 
on the Blue Kiver in Hamilton' county. It was when the 
family was thus separated that the following incident 
occurred. 

One July niorning the mother and her little group were 
aroused by two horsemen who sought from her, food and 
rest and brought to her tidings that on the previous day the 
Sioux Indians had raided the first settlement to the west. 
Had taken the stock of farmers, killed two boys and car- 
rier! two young women into captivity. 

The men hastened on to can-y the news to the capital at 
Lincoln. 

The mother faced this problem. If the Indians fol- 
lowed the trail or freight road she witli her children was 
in their path. If instead they followed the stream or West 
Blue the other members t)f her family were in danger. 

The horsemen advised her to start at once for civiliza- 
tion, because they thought the Sioux would spare no one 
in this region. She had a team of horses and a pony. 

Could she leave without knowing the fate of her loved 
ones?" What she decided after an hour of careful thought 
was at eleven o'clock she placed her oldest sou, a lad of fif- 
teen years, on the pony with the charge that he should go 
to the father. The boy had been over the trip but once, no 
road to follow, nothing but the hot July sun to guide his 
])ath from without and the boyish prompting of great dan- 
ger from within. With an overwhelming desire to do well 
his part, he rode over the wide stretch of prairie. 

The agreement was that he should ride to the family 
home and return by noon' the following day. If he did not 
return, the mother with the remnant of her flock would 
start toward the eastward to seek a si^ot where people 
"could live." 

The long vigil of that night is the silent climax of this 
tale. It is better imagined than described. With the team 
of horses and wagon drawn close to the window and the 
faithful watch dog brought from the Wisconsin home, her 



36 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 



only protector, crouched under the window, she sat by the 
bedside of her children, in her arms the writer of this 
sketch, a babe of four weeks. 

The first hours of darkness brought a heavy electric 
storm. I have heard my mother say "that nature ex- 
pressed and calmed the anguish of her heart as she looked 
into the face of her first-born, a girl just budding- into 
womanhood, and thought could she see her carried away 
by a band of Indians or rather could she see her life go out 
in innocence and purity?" 

As the storm ceased the little group was aroused by 
a sound of alarm which frightened the horses, the watch 
dog barked and growled. One of the children exclaimed, 
''Oh, there are Bob and father!" In the sweet Scotch ac- 
cent always noticed in time of great earnestness the mother 
answered, ''No children, that's no' Bob neither is it your 
father. " i 

The alarm increased when with one great bound the 
watch dog leaped through the screened window into the 
midst of the waiting group crouched at my mother's feet. 
Th« sound without was the mingling of a growl and a sharp 
shrill whistle. It became fainter and at last died away, the 
little group thinking kind providence had caused the Red 
man to pass them by. 

The cause of this alarm was not, however, the fierce 
Red Skin, but pi'oved to be a wandering wild animal of the 
mountain lion family and so far as we know the only one 
of its kind that has ever been seen in this country. It 
killed stock in the settlement and was shot beyond Beaver 
Crossing the following day. The night watch wore away 
and with the new day came fresh courage to face life's 
duties. The mid day sun brought the boy on the pony, the 
father and the absent members of the family, for the Indian 
raiders had followed the stream farther to the south. 

In the passing years this experience has been rehearsed 
with many a laugh and joke as to how we met the Indian 
raids. Yet this experience with its happy ending bears 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 37 

evidence of something of the cost of making tliip "Our 
Fair Nebraska." 

Mrs. JP^NNIE W. STEPHENS, York, Nebr. 

York County Agricultural Society. 

The Agricultural Society of York County was organ- 
ized at the .ofiice -of -F. M. 'BMwell, in" the month of June, 
1872. N. AY. Graves was elected President, F. W. Liedke, 
Secretary, and L. I). Stilson, General Superintendent. The 
first fair was held in October, 1873, upon the present 
grounds of the society. The half mile track had been sur- 
veyed and laid out during the summer of 1872. There was 
a fair representation of trotting stock. The exhibits of 
cattle, sheep and farm produce were limited, for it will be 
remembered the country was then enjoying the days of its 
tutelage. However, there was a good representation of all 
classes of entries, and an interest manifested by the farm- 
ers of York County that was highly encouraging to the 
founders of the society. TIk^ premium list of this year ag- 
gregated $500. After a series of years of successes and 
reverses, and owing to the fact that so many were attracted 
to State, National and World fairs by the larger attractions, 
and especially the enticing attraction to go away from 
home offered by the special, low rates of fare offered by the 
different railway companies, the county fair has been aban- 
doned and the grounds sold. 

Old York Precinct. 

Old York Precinct occupied the geographical center of 
the county, eight miles square. On the third of August, 
1869, David Baker pitched his tent on the banks of Beaver 
Creek, under the spreading branches of a friendly old elm, 
that stood on Section 10, Tov/n 10, Range 3. Mr. Baker and 
his family made this their home for a ])eriod of three 
months, during which he erected the first frame house in 
the precinct, hauling the lumber from Nebraska City. His 
settlement is the first that it is our pleasure to record. The 
next settlers who amved, are Isaac Crable, ex-Sheriff J. P. 



38 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

Miller, Isaac Baker, Thomas Meyers and Edward Bates. 
Messrs. Crable, Baker and Bates took up claims on Section 
8. Sheriff Miller on Section 12, Thomas Meyers on Section 
2. In 1870 a large number of settlers came into the precinct, 
and nearly all of the valuable claims were taken up, and 
before the close of 1871 all the goverament land was ex- 
hausted. Among the first who came in 1870, Lorenzo D. 
Brakeman, F. M. Connelly and D. A. Ritner made settle- 
ments on Section 4, Town 10, Rang*e 2. Charles F. Day and 
A. J. Day on Section 18, Nathan Johnson on Section 20, 
Thomas Porter, Section 24, David Graham, J. S. Shawl also 
en Section 24. H. M. Detrick, J. W. Andrews on Section 30, 
and R. C. Shipman and John Murphy on Section 10. 

Early History. 

The site of York was taken as a pre-emption claim by 
Messrs. Ghost and Sherwood for the South Platte Land 
Co., in the spring of 1869. They erected a small frame 
building which was situated just south of the public square, 
near the Central Hotel stables. In October, 1869, the city 
of York was surveyed and platted, and when the spring of 
1870 opened it was represented by one sod house and the 
frame building referred to above. In the fall of 1870, two 
brothers by the name of El wood inaugurated the firsc store 
in York County in the old pre-emption house, whicl; tJiey 
maintained until the following spring, when they packed 
up their little stock and went sadly away, believing with 
all sincerity that the future city was only a phantom and 
unworthy to be courted. A few weeks after their prema- 
ture departure, F. 0. and J. H. Bell came out from Lin- 
coln with a wagon load of general merchandise and opened 
the second store where the Elwoods had vacated. 

During the summer and fall of this year the city began 
to develop by the presence of a few frame buildings that 
were put up. In the summer of 1871, Dr. A. B. Tutton 
started the first drug store in York County on the north- 
west corner of the public square, and duiing the month of 
September J. E. Carter built a second store on the west 
side of the square, stocking it with general merchandise. 



OP YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 39 

a slioit time after, Bralimstadt & Kleinschmidt built their 
store, and W. A, Reed bnilt the first liotel. In November 
L. J. Gandy opened the first hardware and implement 
house, and in January, 1872, Charles Le Count offered his 
services to the citizens of York as a tinsmith. Thomas (rray 
began pounding iron in a sod blacksmith shop in the fall of 
1871, and William H. Gould opened the first wagon .-hop 
in the spring of 187:2. Some of the buildings erected dur- 
ing this year were the millinery store of Mrs. E. Wilson, Dr. 
Thomas L. Meyers' drug store, the furniture store of D. A. 
Stonecypher and the store of F. M. Connelly, occupied by 
Wyman & Buckmaster as an implement house. In 187J F. 
A. Bidwell was appointed Land Agent of the B. & M. R. R\, 
and opened his office at York, and in 1872 the frame court 
house was erected. All of these improvements gave the city 
the appearance of active business life and a promise of be- 
coming, in the near future, a prominent city of the state. 
The success of its founders led others to cast their lines in 
it, until it began to acquire a growing fame and demand 
considerable attention from the outside world. In August, 
1877, when the first train of the B. S^. M. R. R. made i'^; tri- 
umphal entry into the city, it found a town of 600 inhabit- 
ants to offer it a hearty welcome. 

Incorporation. 

At a session of the Board of County Commissioners, 
held September 7, 1875, York was incorporated as a town, 
and the following Board of Trustees appointed: Hon. 
George W. Post, F. A. Bidwell, F. M. Connelly, W. A. Reed. 
The first meeting of the Board took place September 25. 
F. M. Connelly was elected Chairman, and W. T. Scott, 
Clerk. The fir'^t regular meeting was held December 6. S. 
M. Wells received the first ai^nointment as Marshal and 
F. M. Connelly, as Assessor. The town attorney was in- 
structed to draft suitable ordinances for the government of 
the town and the maintainance of peace and quiet to its 
citizens. The election of 1876 brought into office the fol- 
lowing gentleman: Trustees — Charles Le Count, Chairman, 
J. A. Fatherly, J. A. McKilli]), J. F. Green and H. C. Klein- 
schmidt, J. A. McKillip, Treasurer J Edward S. Connelly, 



40 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

Clerk, and J\[. J. Shackelford, Marshal. 

In 1877 J. P. Miller was chosen Chairman of the Board 
of Trustees, and his colleaoues were: W. T. Scott, C. Le- 
Count and A. B. Codding. J. P. Gandy was appointed Mar- 
shal, Joseph Massison, Treasurer and Assessor, C. M. Scott, 
Clerk. 

On the fifth of September, 1877, York was formally 
organized as a city of the second class and divided into 
two wards. W. T. Scott was honored with the mayoralty 
of the new city; Lee Love and George Butterfield as Coun- 
cilman of the First Ward, and C. Le Count and A. B. Cod- 
ding as Councihnen of the Second Ward. The remaining 
offices were distributed as folh^ws: City Clerk, C. M. Scott; 
City Treasurer, D. C. Sayer; (^ity Marshal, Charles Penn; 
Police Judge S. M. Wells; Engineer, D. C. Evans. 

At the election of 1878 all of the city officials were re- 
elected except City Engineer Evans, who was succeeded by 
A. B. Codding. In the Council, the Messrs. George Butter- 
field and T. C. Evans were returned from the First Ward, 
and Messrs. G. B. France and R. H. Tuttle from the Second 
Ward. In the fall of 1878, His Honor Mayor Scott, was 
called to the higher position of serving the people of York 
County as member of the State Legislature, and resigned 
the mayoralty of the city. Mr, France, who had been 
(;hosen President of the Council, acted as Mayor during the 
balance of the term. 

The election of 1879 gave the citv the following offi- 
cials: Mavor, Col. B. Crabb; City Clerk, C. M. Scott; Citv 
Treasurer, W. W. Giffen; City Marshall, W. H. Gibbs; City 
Engineer, A. B. Codding; Police Judge, S. M. Wells. In 
the Council Jesse Love succeeded George Butterfield in the 
First Ward, and T. D,. Knapp came in as the successor of 
G. B. France in the Second Ward. 

In the spring of 1880 N. V. Harlan was elected Mayor, 
T. E. Sedgwick, Councilman in the First Ward; George 
Butterfield, Councilman in the Second Ward; C. B. Allen, 




MK. AND MKS. I). J. ( OM.INCi 

Pioneer Merchants. SettkMl in York Seteniber 2(», 
32 Years in tlie Merchantile Business in York 



1878. 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 



41 



City Clerk; W. "W. Giffeii, City Treasurer; A. V. :\ront,oom- 
ery, Police Judge; A. B. Codding, City Engineer. 

The year 1881, Messrs. Harlan, Allen, Montgomery 
and Codding were re-elected and E, L. Hatch, City Treas- 
urer. T. D. Knapp was re-elected in tlie Second Ward, and 
James McKillip as Councilman for the First Ward. 

The City of York. 




CITY OF YORK 1874. 

York ia situated in the geogra]^hical center of the 
county and in 1910 had a population of 6,500 It has three 
railroads. The Burlington & Missouri River railroad, 
which traverses the county f)om east to west; The Chicago 
&: Northwestern, passes through the county from north- 
east to south-west, and the Kansas City & Omaha, which 
bisects the county north and south. The principal streets 
are substantially paved with brick, the sidewalks are wide 
and are entirely of cement and brick in tiie principal ])art 
of the city. York has a splendid su])ply of water from deep 
wells, furnished by the York Water company, an electric 
system that covers the entire city, a large gas plant, ca- 
pable of supplying the demands of tho city for many years 



42 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

to come, and a sewerage system of both sanitary and drain- 
age sewers. 

York is beautifully located in a valley, near the banks 
of the Beaver, while the repi deuces lie alomv up the gentle 
slopes and away on the crests of the surrounding hills. It 
is a city of homes and the most beautiful and attractive 
residences in the state. A profusion of stately trees hide 
with their foliage all but the tallest buildings, and many 
well kept la\t^ns add to the inviting appearance of the tasty 
and elegant homes. There are two parks, one of which is 
equipped with large natural shade trees, seats, swings, a 
band stand and is traversed by the winding Beaver Creek. 
Across the street from this park are the Chautauqua 
grounds, with a large pavilion and ample shade. Every year 
a ten days program is given at tliese grounds, comprising 
the best talent the country affords. York is a member of the 
state base ball league, and the grounds, convenient to the 
city, are provided with amphitheatre and all necessary 
equipment. York has a capacious opera house, two "air 
domes ' ' and two moving picture shows, for amusements. A 
lecture course is given each winter under the auspices of 
York College. 

Banks. 

The first bank in York County, a scalping concern, 
was established in York in 1875 by Wiliam McWhirter. 
The laws governing banks were very lax in those days, 
and no one ever knew what the capital stock of the bank 
was, but it is thought by H. C. Kleinschmidt who was em- 
jjloyed as clerk in the bank that Mr. McWhirter had about 
$1500 invested in the banking business. There were no 
bank examiners in those days, and no law against usury, 
and one of the rules of the bank was, not to buy' any paper 
unless it was gilt-edged, and not to pay more than 50 cents 
on the dollar for good notes, and to pay 45 cents on the dollar 
for county warrants, and charge 3 to 5 per cent a month 
for the choicest loans. 

The first bank ledger in York County was opened by 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 43 

William McWhirter January 1, 1877 The book was six 
by seven inches nnd one-fourth of an inch thick. 

The original book can now be seen at the First Na- 
tional Bank, 

It seems from reliable information that Mr. McWhirter 
had been doing* a private brokerage business for some time, 
but in 1877 he procured a little room on the west side of the 
square and started York county's first bank. 

The first month's business Siiows the following list of 
depositors: L. J. Gandy Co., treasurer; F. M. Boss, L. J. 
Gandy, F.. O. Bell, C. S. Hesser, Brahmstead & Kleinschpiidt, 
F. J. Greer, D. T. Mooi-e, Say re i^ Tbompson, AuUman & 
Co., John Bittinger, Halstead & Multner, M. Sovereign, 
E. H. Bly, Mrs. John Fero, A. C. Montgomery, F. H. Gerard, 
David Erb, G. W. AVirt and William F. Morrison. 

The total of the depos'tf* a.t the end of the first month 
was $3,186.38. The first balance sheet showed up clear and 
plain. It never was footed up. 

It is unnecessary to say he made scads of money, and 
when he died a few years later he was counted a rich man. 
A remarkable change has taken place in the banking busi- 
ness in York County the capital tock and surplus of the 
York banks alone amount to $424,151, and the deposits in 
the same banks amount to $1,816,653.00, and York can boast 
of as fine a four story, fire-proof bank building with all 
modern equipn^ents, as can be found in the state. 

Agricultural implements and farm liiachinery, general 
merchandise, dry goods, hardware, wholesale grocers and 
drugs are among the many features of its general business 
character. ' ," '^" 

It enjoys the facilities of two good hotels, several small- 
er ones and a number of restaurants, furnishing good and 
arnple accomodation to the traveling luiblic. 

A growing and important industry worthy of mention 
is the York Nursery, comprising several acres of choice land 
devoted to the pro])ogation of fi-uit and ornamental trees and 
shrubs; and doing the largest business of any nursery in th© 



44 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

west. Also a well equipped brick yard that supplies tlie 
home demand for brick, ^nd ships many car loads away 
each year 

< 

New York. 

The advent of the B. & M. R. R. and the location of 
their depot at York, about thirty rods north of the north 
end of Lincoln avenue, an-i consequently outside of the 
cit}^ limits, induced Mr. Woaley, the owner of the land ad- 
joining, to survey and plat a town, which he named in honor 
of the g-reat metropolis. New York. It was incorporated as 
a town in 1880, and from its favorable location has assumed 
a promient place as a business town. It is now a part of 
the City of York. 

The Temperance Strug"gle in the Early Days of York. 

In the spring of 1876 an application was filed with 
the city board for a license to open a saloon in the city of 
York to sell malt, spirituous and vinous liquors. At that 
time the city board consisted of five members, H. C. Klein- 
schmidt, J. A. McKillip, J A. Eatherly, F. J. Greer and C. 
LeC^ount, who was chairman; three of the board, Klein- 
schmidt, Le Count and Greer, were temperance, and two, 
McKillip and Eatherly, were for saloons; the board were to 
meet in the evening of the day the petition was filed, and 
that day a son of Mr. Greers who was attending school 
taught by Miss Etta Beecher (afterwards, Mrs. Dr. Wm. 
Knapp) committed a misdemeanor that anyone thought he 
ought to be nearly killed for, and his teacher gave him a 
severe whip])ing, his father like fool parents sometimes 
do, took the boy's part and wanted Mr. Kleinschmidt, who 
was also a member of the school board, to use his influence 
to prevent Miss Beecher getting the school for another 
term. Mr. Kleinschmidt said she was an excellent teacher 
and had already promised her his support for another 
term. Mr. Greer flew mad and said he would vote to grant 
saloon license, the temperance folks hardly knew what to 
do, the time was too short to get up a remonstrance, but 
they thought about Mr. Geer, practicing medicine, who a 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 45 

fehort time before bad been in the country to visit a sick 
woman wbose Imsband they saw in town, and they made 
arrangements with him to give Mr. Greer an urgent call to 
come and see his wife who lived a good way out and paid 
him the usual fee the doctor would charge. The party who 
got Dr. Greer to go and see his wife at once, went on ahead 
and had his wife get in bed and she was apparently very 
sick when the doctor got there, the council adjourned their 
meeting till the next night and then the temperance folks 
were on hand with their remonstrance with George B.France 
as their attorney, Edward Bates was attorney for the whis- 
key element. Cliarles Le Count was chairman and Mr. Greer 
promptly made a motion that the license be granted to the 
applicant and the motion was seconded. Council for the 
remonstrators objected to the motion and called attention of 
chairman Le Count that the motion was out of order, and 
requested that the motion be not put, or acted on, and the 
chairman sustained the objection and refused to put the 
motion; the meeting contiuued in session with more or less 
wrangling till seven o'clock the next morning when the la- 
dies l3rought in an excellent breakfast. Mr. Kleinschmidt 
and Mr. McKillip agreed to pair off and go home to break- 
fast neither to return without the other, but Mr. Klein- 
schmidt was a little suspicious and had his little boy watch 
and tell him if he saw Mr. McKillip going to the court 
house; he had no more than gof down to the table when 
the little boy hollered, "There goes McKillip, father, on 
the run to the court house," and up jumped Kleinschmidt 
and raced to the court house just in time to head him off, so 
they all ate the nice breakfaist furnished by the temperance 
ladies. 

George B. France and Jorn A. Fatherly, a member of 
the city board, were well acquainted, having resided in the 
village of Milford, Seward county, Nebr., together for five 
or six years: while there they spent much time and money 
attending the singing schools of the early days held during 
the lonely hours of the winter. When the term closed the 
teacher always gave a concert, and it was understood that 
the teacher could call on any two to sing any one of the 
pieces which were learned {md sung during the winter. 



46 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

Eatherly and France at one of these coDcerts were called 
on to sing and they immediately arose and endeavored to 
sing the music arranged by the teacher, but made a complete 
failure. 

Mr. Eatherly, during this night session of the city 
board, commenced saying rather abusive things of and to 
the attorney for the remonstrators, George B. France, and 
he was headed off in his effort to create a disturbance by 
Mr. France saying, "John, let us sing." This remark 
caused good feeling again, and Eatherly proceeded to tell of 
the incident of the singing school, ending with the remark, 
"George, what do you want?" France replied, "Adjourn 
the meeting for two weeks and set the application and re- 
monstrance down for trial as provided by law." This was 
linally done. The following day Mr. France and F. A. Bid- 
well drove to Central City and obtained from George W. 
Post, then Judge of the District Court, an injunction re- 
straining the city board from granting a license to the 
applicant, when the board next met the injunction was 
served. 

The member of the board who changed his views was a 
druggist and six violations of the liquor law were obtained 
against him wherein he had illegally sold intoxicating li- 
quors, and he was informed that if he ever voted to grant 
a license to the applicant he would be prosecuted to the full 
extent of the law. One of those in favor of a saloon met the 
Rev. C. S. Harrison who was fighting strong for temper- 
ance, and told him that unless a saloon. was forthcoming in 
York they intended burning the houses of the temperance 
people one by one until such a license was granted, he was 
informed at once by Mr. Harrison that for every building 
of a temperance advocate destroyed there would be a build- 
ing of a saloon advocate destroyed. The man then threat- 
ened to flog Mr. Harrison and immediately the coat of the 
Reverend was off, and the gentleman cuffed till he was 
entirely satisfied. 

The good people of York were not molested again by 
the whisky element till after the B. & M. R. R. was built 
to the city and the depot located north of the city limits. 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 47 

A Mr, Wooley wlio, owned the land north of town, conceived 
the idea of hiving out a town just north of York, leaving 
ki strip of land between the two towns which was after- 
wards called "The Dead Line". This was done, and the 
new town called New York, the village board was orga- 
nized and saloon licenses were granted; the temperance 
people of York organized, raised a fund of $1500.00 to aid 
in lighting the saloons of the new village, employed de- 
tectives, and had the saloon keepers up before the Justice 
of the Peace and District Court till life with them was a 
burden, and their business very unprofitable. While these 
conditions were going on the saloon men had it in especially 
for a Mr. Creelman, a leader in the anti-saloon fight, this 
Mr. Creelman worked, together with Mr. Henry Seymour, 
in Mr. Chessman's elevator on the R. R. in New York; Mr. 
Creelman was sent to Eatlierly's store in the old town for 
some repairs for the elevator, two saloon men learned of his 
trip and decided to follow him and la^ him out, they were 
talking their i)lans as they passed the elevator and Henry 
SeyTiiour overheard them and as soon as he could leave 
the elevator followed them hastily, saw them go in the 
Eatherly store where Creelman was and rushed in after 
them; they had knocked Creelman down and were on top 
mauling him, Seymour grabbed a hickory pick-handle and 
began beating the saloon men, the hickory club came out 
first best, the saloon men were glad to get away, and left 
tc»"^vn for fear of arrest. The saloons sor»n quit the unprofit- 
id:)le fiffht and there has never been a saloon near York. 
Since New Yoi'k had no other excuse for being a se]iarate 
town and soon united with and became a part of the city 
of York, the dead line was surveyed, r.^d platted and the 
fieht ended. 



'ti' 



York School District 

York School District was organized June 14, 1871. It 
included a territory five miles square in which the city oc- 
cupied al)out the central position. Notice of the formation 
of tliis district was served upon the entire voting popula- 
tion, residing in its limits. In the school records the names 
of the male residents of the district are 'mtered, which will 



4 8 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

give the reader an idea of how sparsely the county was set- 
tled' at this period, and also the names of the early settlers 
of the now prosperous city. The total number claiming a 
residence in the above territory which included the city 
of York is only twenty- two and were the following persons: 
H. M. Detrick, G. W. Dixon, W. L. Draper, Thomas Mvers, 
Gottleib Hofer, J. H. Bell, F. 0. Bell, A. B. Tutton, J. S. 
Tutton, A. E. Hendricks, J. P. Miller, James J. Holley, 
Ichabod Cook, M. B. Noel, A. J. Day, Isaac Crable, C. F. 
Day, Edward Bates, L. D. Brakeman, D. A. Ritner, R. Charl- 
ton, August Bonge. 

A. B. Tutton was elected director, A. C. Montgomery, 
moderator, and Tliomas Myers, treasurer. No further steps 
were made towards perfecting the organization until Janu- 
ary 15, 1872. At a meeting held at this date, the district 
voted to issue bonds to the amount of $2,000 for the purpose 
of purchasing a building site and erecting a school house. 
This building was completed in season for a summer school, 
which was taught by Miss M. A. Hill. During the winter 
session of this year J. Cochran was employed as teacher. 
The first school established in York was taught by A. C. 
Montgomery in the winter of 1870-71. The old pre-emp- 
tion house served as a school house, and twenty-two pupils 
were in attendance, some coming a distance of eight miles. 
It was maintained by subscription and was of two months' 
duration. Mr. Montgomery received his wages in wood, 
grain, cash, or whatever the settlers could best give from 
an individual standpoint. 

At the annual meeting of the board in 1879, it was de- 
cided to call a special election, and submit a proposition to 
the citizens of York, for issuing the bonds of the district to 
the amount of $58,000, for the purpose of erecting a new 
school building, the old house having become too small to 
accommodate the fast growing school population. This 
election took place May 16, and was universally favored. 
A building was commenced immediately and it was com- 
pleted in 1881. 

Prominent among the names of the officers of the dis- 
trict during the past are those of li. M. Detrick, W. A. 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 49 



Reed, F. A. Bidwell, T. D. Knapp, H. C. Kleinscbmidt, 
Judge D. T. Moore, C. Le Count, J. A. Eatlierly, and among 
the names of teachers who carried away with them the bene- 
dictions of their pupils and patrons may be mentioned: J. 
E. Cochran, E. J. Wiswell, Mrs. Coiner, Miss Beecher, Mrs. 
C. B. Allen, nee Miss Eff ie Cutter, T. A. Parkinson, ex-Mayor 
N. V. Harlan, Mrs. Pound, Miss Hart, Miss Gunnel, Miss 
Hayes, Miss Kate Keckley. 

York has attained a reputation as a literary and edu- 
cational center and affords the best possible opportunities 
for educating the young in all branches, in music and art 
as well as in the business, literary and classical courses. 
And now has three public school buildings, the Central, or 
High School building valued at $50,000.00, with a corps of 
39 teachers, and an enrol hnent of 1,500 scholars, the school 
is fully equipped with all modern appliances and is doing- 
splendid work. York College is a religious, non-sectarian 
institution, offering the advantage of several courses of 
study, from a business or normal education to a finished 
classical or scientific course. It is now in a prosperous con- 
dition and is completing a new gvmnasium at a cost of 
about $15,000. 

York Business College and Normal School is known 
and' patronized throughout the entire west. Its rapid 
growth and large student body are the best evidence of its 
efficiency. 

Ursuline Convent school has handsome and pleasantly 
shaded grounds and commodious buildings. It is con- 
ducted by the Ursuline Sisters of the Roman Catholic 
church, and has students from a number of states and of 
all denominations. Many who desire to place their chil- 
dren under the parental care and restraint of the sisters 
patronize this school, regardless of religious creed. The 
school has an average attendance of 200 scholars, the larger 
part of them board, and have their homes in the building- 
connected with the school; the course of studies embrace all 
grades from Nos. 1 to 1'2 inclusive, and includes music, 
])ainting and needle work. There are 10 teachers emi)loyed 
in the school work, and a good work is l)eini>' done. 



50 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

County Schools. 

The Public Schools in York County have grown from 
the small beginnings of the early settlement when schools 
were taught in private dwellings and claim shacks, and from 
when School district No. 1 was organized in 1869 in West 
Blue Township till now — (1912 there are one hundred and 
three scliood districts.) 

Each school has its own library of reference books, 
maps, globes, charts etc., and throughout the country there 
is uniformity of text books prepared especially for the York 
County Schools by County Superintendent Alice Florer, 
practicaly the same work is being done in every school. 

Many of the schools are doing excellent work in manual 
training and domestic science in spite of the fact that they 
are not yet fully equipped for these subjects. A great deal 
of this work has been done through the Corn Contests held 
for three successive years. 

York County has an efficient body of teachers all hold- 
ing first or second grade or life certificates. The Reading 
Circle for all teachei's meets one Saturday in each montli. 
Educational problems are discussed beside the work in the 
regular text books. 

Reading contests between pupils of the various dis- 
tricts have been most successful. This plan for the im- 
provement of reading originated in York Countj^ but has 
now found a place in many ether counties in Nebraska. 

Patron's Day observed in many schools has been the 
means of bringing the home and school in closer touch. 

In York County there are 5658 children of school age, 
and there was paid to Male Teachers $12,865.00; Female 
Teachers $61,722.40 for the year closing 1912. School 
receipts for year ending July 1911, $115,982.76. 



First Term of Court. 

The first term of the District Court in York County 
was held at York, in the spring of 1872. His Honor, Chief 




MRS. NELLIE H. YOUNG 

Taught First School in York Precinct, 1868. Wages Then 
Were $6.00 Per Month. 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 51 

Justice G. B. Lake, presided, and Hon. G. W. Post served 
as District Attorney, Court sat one-half day in the fall of 
1872, and transacted the e-^tire busines that the docket 
called for. The only case of any importance called was 
the injunction suit, to restrain the county from issuing 
bonds in the sum of $150,000 to the Midland Pacific Rail- 
road Company. After hearing the case. His HoUou decided 
in favor of the plaintiffs and made the injunction per- 
petual. 

There were two divorce cases, the first cases on the 
docket to disfigure the pure white records and can be 
seen by examining trial docket No. 1 at page No. 1 and ap- 
pearance docket No. 1 at page No. 1. The divorces were 
granted May 29, 1872. But the first Court trial in York 
County was not a white man's trial, nor a trial for divorce 
but a trial among the original occupants of the country, 
the Pawnee Indians; they were not educated in modern civi- 
lization and knew nothing of the divorce business, but un- 
derstood that when a man and woman were legally con- 
tracted to marry, they should be man and wife. The trial 
is related by N. A. Dean in his own words, as follows: 

(Indian Trial) 

Quoted by N. A. Dean 
"It was the winter of 1870 the Pawnees' Chief camped 
on the west side of tlie Blue River, Section 9, Township 9, 
Range 1, AVest. In that tribe there was a young man who 
wanted to get him a wife. Their custom was that if a 
young man wanted a wife he must pay the price. This 
young man fell in love with a young girl that was also 
camped with these people. The contract for their mar- 
liage was to be made with the girl's father. The con- 
tract was made and the price paid, which was in ponies 
and furs. The mariage ceremony consisted of the con- 
tract with the father of the girl and a whip made of 
three strands of raw-hide fastened to a horn handle of 
elk prongs presented to the young man by the Chief of 
the tribe. 

After all the arrangements were completed with the 



52 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

girl's father and tlie young man, and the time set for the 
ceremony everybody in the ease was happy except the girl. 
Here is where the trouble began with these parties. The 
girl objected; she tlioght that she was the one who should 
be consulted, and refused to carry out her father's contract 
with the young man, and her father could not persuade her. 
The matter was reported to the Chief; the Chief with his 
select warriors were called together as a council of war. 
After they had heard the evidence of the father and the 
young man and the girl; the girl's objections were that 
there was another young man she preferred; still the verdict 
of the Chief and his counselors of war was that the girl 
should carry out the contract and accept the young man as 
her bridegroom'. The girl still refused and was forced to 
be married to the former young man. 

The young man, father and mother could not persuade 
her to accept, and the next morning the matter was re- 
ferred back to the Chief. Their mode of punishment for 
what they considered a crime was to be whipped; so the 
Chief ordered the young girl whipped. She was taken by 
two young men of her own tribe, a rope was put around her 
neck, her back was bared, she was then bound to a tree; 
the Chief had ordered one of the young men to give her ten 
lashes with the whip that had been presented to her husband 
at their marriage ceremony. 

Her cries and screams, so severe was her punishment, 
that they were heard a half a mile away. They were then 
camped on the soutli side of the Blue and Heller's folks were 
on the north side. Heller's folks hearing the cries and 
screams supposed that one of their neighbors was sick and 
had started across the river to the neighbor's house to find 
out the cause. After they had crossed the river they saw 
this young girl coming crying and hallooing. Not under- 
standing their language, they could not make out what it 
was only they saw the welts that were upon the girl's body 
and motioned her to go to the house on the other side of the 
river. 

The girl went to the house, ran through the house 
into the bedroom and jumped on the bed, still crying and 



OF YORK COUNTY. NEBRASKA 53 

liallooing*. Heller's women folks not knowini>' what it meant 
ran out of the house and waited until the men came home. 
Not understanding what the case was, we went to the Chief's 
wig"- warn and there through the interpreter found out what 
is stated above. In talking to the interpreter and he talking 
to the Chief we were given to understand that that was 
their law and their custom of punishment for all crimes. 
Through us and the interpreter the Chief sent the father to 
tlie house and brought tlie young girl back to camp. Father, 
mother and her intended persuaded the young girl to carry 
out her father's contract. We watched the couple through 
the winter and they seemed, after knowing one another, to 
enjoy one another's company and left in the spring their 
camping ground for Omaha, their old home." 

Edward Bates opened the first law office in York and 
a short time after he was joined by Hon G. W. Post. Dur- 
ing the first year of his i)rofessional life at York, while 
sitting one morning in the door of his office anxiously 
waiting for a client. Judge Post saw a herd of antelope 
cross the town site, passing over the ground now occupied 
by the high school building- 
York College. 

York College was founded on August 26, 1890, and is 
•now in the twenty-third year of educational work. The 
following persons constituted the first Board of Tnistees: — 
Judge. D. T. Moore, Rev. E. A. Leeper, D. D.; Lee Love, 
Judi>e N. A. Dean, C. J. Nobes, D. E. Sedgwick, M. D., Judge 
A. C, Montgomery, Rev. J. C. Countermine, D. D., F. 0. 
Bell, Judge G. W. Post, Rev. G. F. Deal and Rev. F. W. 
Jones. 

It was the noble ])urpose of its founders to establish 
under United Brethern auspices an institution of higher 
learning, where the young people of Nebraska and the West 
could secure a thorough education at the minimum expense 
of time and money and under the most pleasant and health- 
ful surroundings and the best moral and religious influences. 

The freedom of York from the licensed liquor saloon 
was the one predominant force which led to its location. 



54 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

This fact has also contributed much to the rapid growth 
which has characterized its work with the on-go of the jeixiy.. 
Character is the great need of every age Srfe environments 
will always be of first consideration in choosing a College. 
In this particular, York College has no equal in the West. 

It must not be accounted a sectarian institution. It 
does not stand for any special creed. Several different de- 
nominations are always represented on the Faculty and 
Board of Trustees. But the institution is earnestly Christ- 
ian. It stands for the Bible and employs all diligence to up- 
build good character, and no less than one thousand students 
have within itslialls been led to en^er tlie Christian life. 

Rev. J. George, D. D., served as president the first 
four years; Rev. W. S. Reese, D. D., tor the nc-xt three 
years; and Rev. Wm. E. Schell, A. ^f. J). D., has since been 
its official head, being now in his sixteenth year of service. 

The College has a beautiful campus of eleven acres and 
three fine buildings: CoUegiates, a'^ndmny, normal, busiiies, 
music, oratory and art departments are maintained. The 
equipments are first-cla -s in every respect. The institution 
holds official recognization from the state department of 
public instruction on the basis of the State University and 
cf the State Normal Schools, and issues all grades of State 
certificates. The endowment is $50,000 and the total assets 
aggregate the sum of $160,000. 

The suroundings are ideal, the advantages are second 
to none, and the rates of expense are moderate. The enroll- 
ment of adult students for the twenty-second year was 4()8. 
Hundreds of graduate have gone forth from its halls and 
are now doing a good and honorable ])art in the business 
and professional work of the great world; and a far larger 
number, though not completing courses, have been bene- 
fitted by terms of years of study and by reason of the help 
secured at York College are now wielding a better influence 
and filling a larger sphere of service to their fellow men. 
Ten are missionaries in the foreign field, one hundred nnd 
fifty have entered the ministry of the Gospel, more than 
one thousand have become teachers in the public schools, 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 55 

and thousands of others in shop and mill and store, on the 
iarm and in the learned professions, are bestowing the bene- 
factions of broad culture and high character for the uplift 
of society in the state and nation. 

If York College has accomplished so much in the few 
short years of its beginning history, who can measure the 
vast, far-reaching influence of its greater work in the golden 
years to come? 

The members of tl\e Executive Board at the present 
time are: Wm. E. Schell, Chairman; N. A. Dean, Treasurer; 
J. W. Purinton, Secretary; W. B. Johns, J. M. Bell, and E. A. 
Grilbert. Vernie R. Porter is the president of the Board of 
Trustees. 



Churches. 

Methodist Episcopal. — The first attempt made to orga- 
nize a class in York County, of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, took place at the house of David Baker, in the 
spring of 1871, Mr. Baker acting as class leader. Tha mem- 
bers of this pioneer class were: David Baker, Elvira Baker, 
J. H. Bell, Thomas Bassett, L. D. Brakeman, Ella Brakeman, 
Sarah N. Moore, Thomas Myers, John Murphv, Mary Mur- 
phy, S. W. Pettis, Mrs. Shackelford. 

In the fall of this year Rev. W. E. Morgan was appointed 
pastor to this charge. It was given the name of York Mis- 
sion and included the entire county. Immediately after 
taking charge. Judge Morgan re-organized the few members 
that resided in the county at this date into two classes, one 
on the West Blue, and the other, the original class of the 
York Methodist Episcopal Society, at the liouse of David 
Baker, the total membership of both classes reaching twenty- 
seven. Mr. Morgan officiated as pastor until the close of the 
conference year in 1875. He held the first service after his 
appointment in the store of Brahmstadt & Kleinschmidt 
and. from this time until the completion of the school house 
in the summer of 1872, at the residence of Mr. Baker. Serv- 
ices were held at the school house until the spring of 1873, 



56 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

at wHich date the Presbyterian Church was completed. It 
was used by the Society until the following September, when 
the Methodist Episcopal Church was completed, Rev. Minor 
Raymond, D. D., of Evanston, 111., officiating at the dedica- 
tion services. At the fourth quarterly conference of the 
year 1871-72, held during the montli of February, 1872, Rev. 
Morgan presiding, the following Board of Trustees were 
elected: David Baker, S. W. Pettis, C. Ta gg, Albert Deems, 
recording steward. 

The lots upon which the church formerly stood were 
donated to the society by the South Platte Laud Company, 
and $100 was received from the Church Extension Society. 
The balance was contributed by the citizens of York and 
members of its several church societies. In 1880 the society 
conveyed this building to the Swedish Lutheran Church So- 
ciety, and it was removed to its present site in 1881, and 
services were held at Bell's Hall. A parsonage was erected 
in 1887. Rev. Edwin Buck was the successor of Judge Mor- 
gan, closing his ministry in the fall of 1877, being succeeded 
by Rev. E. J. Willis, who also remained for a period of two 
years. . Rev. W. S. Blackburn was appointed to this charge 
in the fall of 1879, remaining one year. Rev. G. A. Smith 
came to York in October, 1880. The officers of the church 
at that time were: Trustees, L. J. Gandy, A. B. Codding, 
Geo. Beck, G. W. Woods, A. W. Wirt, E. M. Cheeney, 
E. M. Battis, J. C. Tenney, T D. Knapp; E. M. Cheeney, 
recording steward. 

Presbyterian Church. — The organization of the Pres- 
byterian Church of York took place in a grove of elms, since 
destroyed, situated on the banks of the Beaver, not far from 
the mill site, July 23, 1871. Rev. George H. Carroll, District 
Missionary of the Board of Home Missions for western Iowa, 
presided and preached the sermon, after which the society 
was formally organized by the following members: A. C. 
Montgomerv, Annie M. Montgomery, Robert Charlton, F. 0. 
Bell, Elizabeth Dixon, R. R. Crawford, J. A. Crawford, M. C. 
French. A. C. Montgomery was elected Ruling Elder and 
Clerk and the pulpit was supplied during the first year. 
Rev. D. B. Fleming became the first pastor in 1872 and dur- 
ing this year the church edifice was commenced and com- 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 57 

pleted^ the dedication services taking place November 17. 
Rev. T. K. Hedges officiated as pastor in 1873, and in 1874 
the church was again supplied. Rev. A. S. Powell was 
called as pastor in 1875, and in April 1876, D. P. Temple was 
elected and ordained Ruling Elder. Rev. W. F. Gibson was 
pastor for one year, commencing in 1877, being succeeded 
by Rev. B. F. Sharp, who began his labors in April, 1878. 
In March, 1879, W. AV. Gift'en was ordained Ruling Elder 
and during the summer of 1880 the church building was en- 
larged at a cost of $100, making it 21x56 feet. It was then 
a comfortable frame building, elegantly furnished with oak 
pews, while the walls and ceiling were tastefully decorated. 
The i)roperty was va-lued at $1,500. Since the organization 
niuty-seven persons have united with the church out of which 
number five have been removed by death, viz: Robert Charl- 
ton, Mrs. Annie M. Dickey, Mrs. Clara Vanvalkenburgb, 
Mr<. George W. Miller, and Miss Minnie Sleirart, and se^'- 
eral others have been dismissed at their own request and 
recommended to other churches, leaving a present member- 
ship in 1882 of eighty-four. 

St. Joseph Catholic Church was first attended as a 
mission in 1877 by Father "William Byrne, and by him or- 
ganized into a church. It was under his charge until the 
spring of 1878 when he was succeeded by Father O'Brien, 
who was in attendance until 1880. Father Wallace attend- 
ed during the years of 1880 and 1881 and was succeeded by 
Father C. J. Quinn, of Uticii. The church was commenceld 
ii^ 1879 and completed in 1881 at a cost of $1,100. The 
liarish then liad a membership of 300. 

The CongTegational Church, of York, was organized in 
May 1872, at the office of F. A. Bidwell. The organizing 
members were F. A. Bidwell, Mrs. F. A. Bidwell, Austin 
Harris, Mrs. Austin Harris, L. D. Stilson, Dr. W. Anderson, 
Mrs. Dr. Anderson. The society erected a large frame 
building, designated as a school building, in 18'"4, which 
was used as a house of worship until transferred to Messi's. 
Buckman and AVorley. The first Board of Trustees were 
elected shortly after the organization and included F. A. 
Bidwell, Austin Harris and Dr. William Anderson. First 
church clerk, L. D. Stilson. The membership at that time 



58 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

was 100. Board of Trustees: George P. Chessman, George 
B. France, F. A. Bidwell. The church now has one of tJie 
finest church buildings in the west, located at "the corner 
of Platte and 7th Street. 

Universalist. — The organization of this cliurcli dates 
back to June, 1880, at which date it was organized by 
Eev. L. S. Roripaugh. Rev. E. R. Earl, pastor. This house 
of worship was completed in April, 1881, and the property- 
was valued at $1,800. The Trutees of the church were: 
John Itner, J. D. P. Small, Charles LeCount. 

First United Brethern Church. — The United Brethern 
Church was organized in June, 1887 by Elder Johnson of 
Seward. Held the first meeting in the Universalist church 
on East Hill with six members to organize. During the 
summer of 1887 they held part of their meetings in a vacant 
store room in North York belonging to Wooley. At the 
meetings there were about twenty members . joined the 
church and conference stationed Rev. Schwartz here and 
called it the York station. 

In the Spring of 1888 they built a little frame building 
in ^hat is now known as the Cheney's addition, and wor- 
shipped in that church until the congregation got too large 
to hold them. 

In 1893 they moved the church to York College C*hapel 
and sold their building to the German Lutherans. They 
worshipped in this chapel until 1900, then they built a 
commodious church which they now occupy. • 

The membership in 1912 was 350 and 265 belong to the 
Sunday School. 

The First Baptist Church. — Organized AugTist 23, IST'S 
with David Graham and wife, Thomas Porter and wife, 
Mrs. Ellen Johnson as charter members, Mrs. Porter and 
Mrs. Johnson still living at York. 

Rev. Mitchell was the first pastor. Rev. Peck was the first 
resident pastor, which was in 1879. David Graham was the 
first deacon. 

The church had a membership of 20 when Rev. Peck 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 59 



consented to become pastor; salary to be what they could 
pay him. 

L. I). Stilson, Mr. Wliitlock and David Graham were 
elected as Trustees in 1874. F. M. Dillon elected as Treas- 
urer October, 18, 1879, there being very little finances to 
handle up to this time as the pastor was supported by mis- 
sionary funds, and what donations he received from the 
different churches which he served. 

Rev. A. W. Clark came to the church as pastor August 
1, 1883 and on December 25 of the same year, the building 
of the present church building was decided upon. 

Present membership, 160. 

Church of "Christ.— York, Nebr. In the Spring of 1883 
E. (\ Barrow, who was then State Evangelist of the 
Church in Nebraska, held a meeting in the old Town Hall in 
York. 

June 3rd, 1883 a meeting of the members of the church 
incorporated with T. J. Hatfield, Wm. Williams, and Jas. S. 
Hiatt, Elders and Trustees. With the help of the Church 
Building Association they built a building in which to wor- 
ship, which was dedicated in June, 1884 where they met 
for a number of years. There was a congregation of the 
church who owned what is now the Lockridge Town Hall, 
who because of so many members moving away sold the 
building and deposited the money for the purpose of aiding, 
in building more centrally in the city. In 1896 this money 
was a]:)pied toward the purchase of Lot 5 Block 30 to which 
the old building was removed and remodeled and where it 
stands now at the corner of Platte avenue and Eighth 
street. This was dedicated in 1897 by Z. T.Sweeney of Ohio. 

The growth of this church has been steady and the 
loyalty of its^members inspired by the word of God and the 
7ni]iisters in charge have helped to give it the influence it 
has in the community. 

In January 1910 Evangelist Yeuell held a meeting 
which was helpful and which added many to the church. 



60 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

Ministers who have beeu in charge are M, H Wilson, A. 
W. Harney, T. J. Olliver, J. H. MeSparrow, H. A. Lemon^ 
T. L. Reed, J. M. Fisher, J. A. Kieferle, G. J. Chapman, 
E. B. Widger, T. A. Maxwell, W E. Brandenburg, and the 
present minister (1913) A. F. Ritehey. 

In 1912 a full sized basement was finished for the 
use of the church. This was equipped so that it adds much 
to the convenience of the building for Sunday school, social 
and manj^ purposes. 

The elders who have served, upon whom much of the 
responsibility has laid are T. J. Hatfield, Elihu Harlan, 
Z. W. Sutton, Geo. Spears- P. N. Elartli, R. A. Williams, 
T. J. Winters, J. M. Barnard, Irar Harlan, Walter Harlan, 
D. E. Moss, J. W. Ramey, B. A. Root, M. D., and T. E. 
White. The present elders are J. W. Ramev, Walter Har- 
lan, B. A. Root, M. D., and T. E. White, of whom J. AY. 
Ramey has served since December 30, 1903 making a service 
of almost ten years. 

The membership at present numbers Three Hundred 
lour. 

German Reformed Emanuels Congregation. Corner of 
Nebraska Ave. and 11th St. 

The first German emigrants from the Volga region of 
Russia to settle in York came here in November 1888. Even 
before they had homes of their own or visible means of sup- 
port, they appealed to the pastors of their denomination in 
Sutton, Nebr. for spiritual supply, and in answer to this 
appeal different pastors of the Reformed church preached 
to these people for years. 

The first resident pastor was Rev. J. Vollprecht, now of 
Humboldt, and under his pastorate the congregation was 
organized in 1891 as: The German Reformed Emanuels 
Congregation, affiliated with the Nebraska Classis of the 
Reformed Church in the United States. 

The services were at first held in the homes; then in 
the building on 6th St. recently destroyed by fire; above 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 61 

Blackburn's store; and for six years above W. W. Wycoff s 

office. 

In 1906 under tlie ])astorate of Kev. F. Maurer of Har- 
vard, the cong-rei»ation erected its first clinrcli home, the 
little frame building- on the corner of Nebraska Ave. and 
11th St. From 1907 to 1908 it was part of the charge of 
Rev. U. Zogg- of Sutton. 

In 1910 the congregation declared itself self-supporting 
and elected Rev. W. Bonekemper; since November 1911 the 
present pastor Rev. J. Biery has been in charge. 

Five of the charter members are still among us. They 
are: Mr. and Mrs. Peter Pfenning, Mr. John Hesler, Mr. and 
Mrs. John Reisbig. The congregation now has 116 adult 
members, and as all are in comfortable circumstances, hope 
soon to enlarge its present church edifice and build a 
l^arsonage. 

A Brief History of the First Lutheran Church of York, 
Nebraska. 

In October 1902 a committee composed of Revs. M. D. 
Berg, J. N. Lentz and A. B. Leamer made a canvass of the 
city of York to ascertain the feasibility of establishing an 
Enlgish Lutheran church. Meeting witli encouraging re- 
sults they appointed a Sunday service in the Swedish church 
on W. 8th Street and Platte Avenue. The response was so 
favorable that the President of the Nebraska Synod sent 
supplies for a time. 

The following winter, Rev. W. T. Kahse, a student of 
the Western Theological Seminary, Atchison, Kansas, spent 
his Christmas vacation in York. He made a canvas for 
Lutheran people, and started a Sunday School. It was the 
intention of the President of the Synod to send supplies 
intention of the President of the Synod to send supplies 
having been rented to the Free Methodists the Sunday 
School was disbanded and the supplies for the winter 
postponed. 

In 1903, Rev. 0. E. Sparks, a student of Wittenberg 
College, spent a summer vacation in York and succeeded 



62 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

in rallying the Lutheran forces. With the aid of the Board 
of diurch Extension, he was enabled to secure the Fra- 
ternal Hall for Sunday services. He organized the Sunday 
School, and on August 2, 1903, 'the congregation was 
regularly organized by Rev. L. P. Ludden, D. D., the West- 
ern Secretary of the Board of Home Missions. There 
were 29 charter members. The following composed the 
Offical Board: Geo. Harr, L. M. Worman, S. F. Hansen, 
W- M. Swartzwelder, J. P]. Johnson and C. D. Dreier. 

' From September 1, 1903 until April 1, 1904, Rev. J. G. 
Grilfeth, D. i)., acted as a supply pastor. During his 
incumbency, the Ladies' Aid Society was organized- six 
new members received and the church now owned by the 
congregation was leased. 

June 1, 1904, Rev. George F. Scheese of Selinsgrove, 
Pa., took charge and served until November 1, 1904 and 
resigned and returned to the East. 

January 12, 1905 at the earnest solicitation of the 
South Platte Conference of the Nebraska Synod, Rev. R. A. 
White took charge and served the congregation until 
Apjil 1, 1913. He found the membership very much dis- 
couraged and scattered. By heroic effort he rallied them 
and soon infused new life in the congregation. The 
Ladies' Aid Society has been a very important factor in 
the development of the work. Though only a few in num- 
ber, they raised and expended about $2800 during the 
l)astorate. Each year the church raised her full apportion- 
ment for all benevolent purposes. July 28, 1908 the church 
was bought for $1480. The transfer was made November 
14, 1908. The Trustees signing legal documents were 
R. A. White, Pastor L. M. Worman- C. D. Dreier and August 
Dreier. J. E. Johnson was one of the Church Council, but 
he was away from home at the time, so his name does not 
appear. Following the purchase were extensive repairs 
and renovations of the building. The old rickety tower 
was taken down, a new roof was put on, a basement was 
constructed underneath the entire church, the doors were 
changed from the center to the .southeast corner, a beautiful 
art glass window was put in the east end of the church 
where the doors had been, an art glass transom was placed 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 63 

over the doors, a (libloii furnace by which the cliurch is 
heated was installed, the interior was beautifully papered, 
the woodwork painted and grained, and beautiful oak pews 
were i)ut in. Beside these there were many smaller im])rove- 
ments made which giv^es the congregation a delightful 
auditorium in which to worship- The membership is now 
about 55. It would have been more than a hundred except 
for removals. At the present time it is in a state of growth 
and from all outward appearances there will be rapid 
development in the future. 

On Januarv 2o, Rev. R. A. White offered his resigna- 
tion to take el^'ect April 1, 1913. 

Rev. C. K. S])arks of Auburn, Nebraska has been 
called and will begin his work as pastor June 1, 1913. The 
Church Council as now constituted will be the new pastor, 
Rev. Sparks, M. L. Warner, Fred C. J. Voss and William 
H. Newcomer, Jr. 

History of the United Evangelical Church in York County, 

Nebraska. 

On April 10, 1879 at a session of the Des Moines Con- 
ference of the Evangelical Churches of Iowa, it was resolved 
that York Center, Waco and surrounding country be taken 
up as a mission to be known as York Center Mission. Rev. 
E. D. Einsel was sent as the first preacher in charge. A 
couple of years later some of the appointments were at- 
tached to charges outside of York County and York Center 
Mission was discounted. 

On March 13, 1903 at a session of the Platte River CVm- 
ference of the United Evangelical Church, it was resolved 
that York and surrounding country be taken up and called 
York Mission. Rev. Arthur E. Miller was appointed the 
first pastor and with his wife and the families of E. Rei- 
singer, E. P. McCoy and Elias Anderson constituted the 
charter membershi]) of the church. In May of the same year 
the lot at the corner of Grant avenue and Eighth street was 
purchased and on the first Sunday in June the first service 
was held in the building then there. This was a part of the 



64 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

Boyer's old drug store building. A class was organized on 
June 14, 1903 with 12 mem'bers. The corner stone of the 
present church building was laid in the spring of 1907, 
and on October 27th, under the pastorate of Bev. W. G. 
Brewer, the church was dedicated to the worship of God. 
The property is now valued at $10,000.00 The member- 
ship of the church is 93. The pastors have been as fol- 
lows: 

Eev. Arthur E. Miller— From 1903 to 1907. 
Rev. W. C. Brewer— From 1907 to 1908. 
Rev. A. Essley— From 1908 to 1909. 
Rev. B. Hillier— From 1909 to 1913. 

Rev. Arthur E. Miller— From 1913 to . 

Mr. E. Reisinger has been superintendent of the Sun- 
day school ever since its organization. 

E. Reisinger, J. L. Browitt and Arthur E. Miller were 

the first board of trustees. 

The church is now pretty well organized for work in all 
departments and has great possibilities before it. 

Societies. 

York Lodge, Xo. 56, A. V. & A. M., was granted a dis- 
pensation August 2, 1874, issued to the following members: 
Malcolm G. Barney, Charles Lee Count, Samuel McCon- 
uaughv, William M. Knapp. Lee Love, Andrew Rowley, 
J. J). P. Small, J. W. Foster, Albert A. Burtch, Heury Smith, 
James A. McKillip, John A. Fatherly. A charter was 
granted to the same members June 24, 1875, by Grand Mas- 
Frank Welch, and Grand Secretary William R. Brower. 
The first meeting was held November 3, 1874- at which the 
following officers were chosen: W. R. Knapp, W, M.; Lee 
Love, S. W.; M. G. Barnev, J. W.; J. A. Eatherl}^ Secre- 
tary; J. D. P. Small, Treasurer; J. A. McKillip, S. D., 
Charles Lee Count, J. D. ; Andrew Rowley, Tiler. Trustees: 
M. G. Barney, Charles Lee Count, J. A. McKillip. The 
lodge is in a prosperous working condition, and one of the 
strongest in" the state. 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 65 

York Lodge No. 35, Independent Order of Odd Fel- 
lows, was granted a charter October 2, 1872, and is the 
pioneer lodge of York County. The charter members are: 
William H. Keckley, S. E. Gandy, J. P. Miller, Austin 
Lindsay, D. A. Ritner, E. H. White, A. E. Streeter, Francis 
Brooks, E. B. Stevens. At the first meeting held October 2, 
1872, the following officers were elected: W H. Keckley, 
Noble Grand; S. E. Gandy, Vice Grand; E. H. White, Sec- 
retary; J. P. Miller, Treasurer. The lodge built a line large 
frame building, in 1878, the chambers of which are 
devoted to the lodge and ante-rooms of the Order. The 
membership in 1882 reached seventy-five (75) with the fol- 
lowing officers: A. F. Rice. Noble Grand; C. F. Day, Vice 
Grand; A. L. McClellan, Secretary; W. H. Gould, Treasurer. 

Robert Anderson Post, No. 32, Grand Army of the Re- 
l)ublic, was granted a charter June 23, 1880, by James W. 
Sorogage, Department Commander, and Jno. S. Wood, 
Assistant Adjutant General. 

It is named in honor of Gen Robert Anderson, the hero 
of Fort Sumpter, and its roster of charter members includes 
the following gentlemen: B. Crabb, Captain Company H, 
Seventh Iowa Infantry; R. D. Ralstron, private. Company 
H., One Hundred and Nineteenth Illinois Infantry; J. B. 
Ijaycock, Sergeant, Company F, Seventh P. R. C. Infanti'y; 
John Lett, ju'ivate, Com])any E- Eleventh Iowa Infantry; 
A. W. Gandy, private. Company E, Third Iowa Cavalry; 
W. M. Knapp, private Company G, Fiftieth New York In- 
fantry; A. C. Montgomery, ])rivate, Comi)any B, Eighty- 
third Pennsylvania Infantry; S. E. Gandy, private. Company 
E, Third Iowa Cavalry; E. Granger, private, Company F, 
Twenty-eight Iowa Infantry; H. C. Graves, private. Com- 
pany D, Sixty-fifth Illinois Infantry; J. W. Frost, private. 
Company I, Seventh Minnesota Infantry; George Flock, 
private. Company D, Sixth Iowa Infantry; D. Hutchinson, 
private' Comany I, Thirty-sixth Iowa Infantry; A. H. Camp- 
bell, private, Comi)any E, Fifty-third Illinois"^ Infantry; W. 
L. Nicliols, ])rivate. Company E, Third Wisconsin Infantry; 
D. W. Keister, private, West Moreland Guards; L. D. j\[u1- 
ler, private. Company L, First Indiana Cavalry; J. S. Gray, 



66 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

private, Company E, First Indiana Artillery; H. D. Wright, 
private, Company I, Eleventh Illinois Infantry; T. V, Smith, 
musician, Company A, One Hundred and Second Iowa In- 
fantry; G. W. Albem, private. Company C, One Hundred 
and Forty-eighth Pennsylvania Infantry; N. M. Morgan, 
private. Company L, Second United States Artillery; S. R. 
Lichtenberger, Captain, Company D, Fifteenth Illinois In- 
fantry; W. H. Keckley, private. Seventh Iowa Battalion; 
A. M. Fansler, private, Company B, United States Marines. 
The first Post Commander was B. Crabb, First Senior Vice 
Commander' J. B. Lacock ; First Adjutant, John Lett. The 
post meets the first and third Thursdays in each month, has 
a membership of ninety-nine, and is one of the strongest in 
the State. ■ 

The present officers of the Post are Wm. F. Bullock, P. 
C; F. M. Stalev, S. Y.; J. Fountain, J. V.; M. Sovereign, 
Adjt.; A. W. Wirt, S. M.; E. Reisinger, Q. M.; E. Van 
Vranken, (). D.; R. C. Shipman, o. G.; Rev. C. B. Crouch, 
Chaplain; H. W. Alberts, Q, S. 

The Press, 

The first newspaper published in York was the "York 
Monitor," E. H. White, Editor and Proprietor; the first 
issue was on June 6tli, 1872, a five-column, four page paper, 
subscription price $1.50 per year, cash in advance. The 
first issue contained an add: Bell Bros., Groceries, Dry 
Goods, Hardware, Queenswarc, Boots, Shoes, and Agricul- 
tural Implements. They offered to take Railroad Bonds 
and Green backs for goods. It is presumed the early 
settlers had their pockets full of Railroad Bonds, or they 
would not have offered to take them. This issue also con- 
tained an Add. for Brahmstead & Kleinschmidt, General 
Mdse., Post & Warrington Attys., L. D. Stilson Contractor 
and Builder, D. Stonecypher, Furniture; also a notice for 
sealed bids for the erection of a Schoolhouse in Dist. 27, 
size 16 X 20 and to be built of pine lumber. 

The ' ' Tribune ' ' started by Frank and Arthur Wellman, 
brothers of Walter Wellman, who made the famous attempt 
to reach the north pole, and cross the Atlantic in a baloon. 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 67 

In those days there were raging newspaper wars to 
thrill one with fantastic terrors. 

There were several editorial writers on the paper at 
tliat time and their well known characteristics are apparent 
to those who knew them well in after years. Here is one 
from W. E. Dayton's liand, you may be sure. 

Speaking in the paper of the Tribune Editor, who had 
interfered to prevent the county board from paying a 
printing bill, he wrote: 

"We challenge the paltry wretch to do his dirtiest. 
The cleanest thing he can do is dirty beyond expression 
and the nastier he becomes the sooner he w^ill die of his own 
rottenness. ' ' 

P. N. Elarth had the following advertisement in the 
paper : 

"Swenskar. — Behofen ni en Symaskin eller Musik — 
instrument, hanvanden eder till." 

There was some humorous advertising in the paper 
that week which old residents well acquainted with the par- 
ties will enjoy as a reminiscent story. 

There was here at the time a very cranky and grouchy 
gentlemen, J. K. Philli})s by name, selling musical instru- 
ments. At the same time John Oppfelt, our present neigh- 
bor, was dealing in the same line, as well as the late P. N. 
Elarth. Phillips was always suspicious of something or 
somebody and seemed to imagine that the other two dealers 
mentioned had combined against him, so lie published this: 

"In view of some malicious combinations that have 
been formed by certain persons to injure my business, I 
have concluded to sell organs and pianos at cost for the 
next five years, if necessary. 

J. E. PllILLII^S." 

The next week this humerous reply a]:)peared: 

"In view of certain malicious combinations that have 
been formed by certain parties against J. E. Phillips to in- 



68 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

jure his business, we will assist him by selling organs and 
pianos at cost for the next five years if necessary. 

JOHN OPPFELT, 

P. N. ELARTH." 

Mr. Elarth has gone to a better land, while the frosts 
of time have whitened and thinned the locks of neighbor 
John. Phillips left here nearly twenty years ago but if 
alive he no doubt remembers the kindness of the two men 
who came to his assistance when combinations threatened 
his business. 

The "VVellmans sold to Whedon & Culley, who changed 
the name of the paper to the York Democrat. The ' ' Tidal 
Wave" was started by Adams & Woolman in the interest 
of Greenback currency, run three weeks and was bought 
by T. E. Sedgwick changed to a Republican paper, " The 
Times," and has been built up to a daily and semi-weekly 
paper with a large circulation. Besides the Daily Times, 
York has another daily, "The York Daily News" published 
by the York Blank Book Co., Thos. Curran Mang., and three 
weekly papers, The York Democrat, York Republican, and 
The New Teller. 

The Pioneer Physician. 

(From The New Teller, Feb. 5, 1913.) 

The historian of south York county mentioned in an 
article published last week the valuable services rendered 
early settlers by Dr. Deweese who proved a good friend 
to many sick and suffering ones. The northern portion of 
the county was also fortunate in having a pioneer physician 
in the person of Dr. S. V. Moore, whose home has been in 
York for a number of years. Though his days of strenuous 
effort are long since ended and failing health keeps him 
by his fireside during the winter days, he has a very keen 
memory of tlie time when cold and storms had no terrors for 
him and he willingly braved the worst blizzard to respond to 
a call for help. Dr. Moore came to York county in 1869. He 




m\. S. V. MOOKK 

Pioneer Doctor and Legislator; and His Grandson. Robert 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 69 

took a homestead nortli of the jiresent site of Bradshaw 
-aud built liis sod house on a hill about a half mile from 
Lincoln creek. He had both studied and practised medicine 
in his former home in Illinois but had not expected to con- 
tinue to follow the profession in Nebraska. But the need 
of his neighbors was so great and their wish for the medical 
treatment he alone could give so urgent that he gradually 
yielded to their demands and soon found himself practis- 
ing medicine over the most of York county aud parts of 
Polk and Hamilton. If a call to a sick bed came in plowing 
time the plow must be left in the furrow till the sick were 
visited and if a winter storm was brewing the wife and 
children must be left to care for themselves and the stock 
as best they could until the father-doctor could reach home 
again. _ ^/iiM^iffl 

There were few contagious diseases to contend with, 
thouglT the children of the plains succeeded in catching 
measles and kindred ailments as do those of the towns. 
Dil)theria was a dreaded visitor sometimes and pneumonia 
was greatly feared. Dr. Moore remembers being called to 
the bedside of a young woman who was very sick with 
this disease. A storm was raging and lighted lanterns 
were hung outside the door of the house to guide the doctor. 
As he entered the little room where the woman lay he 
found her bed surrounded by weeping friends who believed 
her to be dying. The doctoi left the door wide open and 
someone in the room suggested that it be closed. "No, leave 
it open" commanded the doctor as he made his way toward 
the sick woman. When she had recovered the power of 
speech the patient told the doctor that she heard his com- 
mand and blessed him for it for she was perishing for lack 
of oxygen and the air in the little room was rendered the 
more imi)ure by the number of people who were crowded 
in. All of these friends save the husband and a woman 
to serve as a nurse were banished by the physician and 
since it was too cold to send them to their homes he told 
them to make themselves as comfortable as possible in a 
sod annex to the house. To those who insisted that the ]ia- 
tient was dying he said "she is not dead yet," and she did 
not die. She too is living in York todav. 



70 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

On one occasion the doctor was gone from his home for 
three days and nights, being prevented from returning by 
a blizzard. As he was nearing home on the evening of the 
third day he was stopped b}'' a settler whose wife was sick 
and who besought him to tarry with them. Though doctor 
Moore had not been able to send word to or hear from his 
family during his absence he yielded to the settler's prayer 
and watched with the sick woman till nearly morning. As 
a little mule which carried him many a mile through heat 
and cold and never failed to find the way home over track- 
less fields of grass or snow. Sometimes when homeward 
bound Billy would lower his head and sniff the trail like 
a dog. "Nell," a beautiful mare of high degree, had her 
part too, in carrying relief to the suffering. Sometimes 
the way, there were no roads in those rays, led through 
the water filled basins and across streams and more than 
once it was necessary for the rider to lift his feet and sad- 
dlebags to the horses back to escape a wetting while fording 
the waters. The travel in winter of course called for the 
most endurance and frequently led to exposure to the ele- 
ments sufficient to endanger life. The pioneer physician 
was not supplied with fur coats or robes and was often 
chilled through and felt the pangs resulting from frosted 
hands and feet. Once a woman in a household where he 
had a patient insisted on preparing the doctor for the home- 
ward trip by wrapping his legs in old quilts tied with 
strings. Before he reached shelter he was most grateful for 
the kindly solicitude, for without the extra wrappings he 
knew he might have frozen. 

Once when the physician was watching by the child of 
a neighbor which had been attacked by membraneous croup 
he was summoned home to find that his little son was sim- 
ilarly afflicted and his wife had been fighting the disease 
with all the remedies at her command. The question of 
medicine was an important one to the doctor of the early 
seventies. Drugs must be procured from Lincoln or 
Milford and then compounded by the doctor himself. A 
good supply of medicine must be carried on every triyt for 
often one call was the only one the doctor could make and 
at the best, medicine must be left for several days with 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 



directions for use or change as the i)atient's condition 
niiiiht demand. 

Often tlie doctor was called to a home consisting of 
one room sod house with only a strip of carpet for a door 
and heated by a cook stove in which cornstalks were used 
as fuel, it requiring the constant labors of one person to 
re]ilenish the fire. The patient in such a home had usually 
a bed of straw covered with carpet for a couch and almost 
]iothing in tlie way of comforts. Yet Dr. Moore recalls that 
by far the greater majority of his patients recovered in 
spite of adverse conditions. There were a few cases of 
tuberculosis under his care in those early days but he held 
out no hope of recovery to the patients or their friends 
while doing all in his power to alleviate their distress and 
make their last days easier. 

In many cases the only compensation Dr. Moore re- 
ceived was that of tlie deep gratitude of his patients. There 
was little to pay with then and it was not unwillingness 
but lack of means which left him unrewarded. Some men 
payed their debts in farm labor and their services were 
greatly needed at times by one who left his own things so 
frequently to care for the things of others. When the 
grasshoppers took the settlers' crops they also took the 
hopes of the doctor for ready money which had been prom- 
ised him by those who lost their all. But of these things 
he never complained and indeed it is necessary to question 
him closely concerning this part of his experience. Some- 
times the doctor traveled twenty-five or thirty miles to see 
a patient and sometimes a trip of sixty or more miles would 
be necessary in order to make two or three visits. Charging 
at ])resent professional rates for visits calling for such an 
ex])onditure of time and strength would have given Dr. 
Moore a good start on the road to wealth, if the charges 
could have been paid. 

This story of heroism might be indefinitely prolonged, 
for hundreds of thrilling incidents doul)tless crowd the 
history of that fourteen years. "Hero" is a very appro- 
priate name for a man who lived the life of a pioneer doc- 
tor but after all it does not express much. For the name 



72 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

is often bestowed for one act of supreme self risk, while the 
doctor practices self sacrifice year in and year ont with no 
great crisis, save the ordinary cries of life, to nerve him to 
endeavor. 

First Happenings in York County, and York. 

First permanent settler — John Anderson in 1865, on 2-9-1, 
West Blue Township. 

First frame buildings, at Porcupine Ranch, on 17-10-4, in 
1863, in Brown Township. 

First death occured at Jack Smith's Stage Station, killed 
by lightning. 

Second Sam Tate was shot l)y Smith in self defense in 
1865, grave can be seen on brow of hill. Sec. 15-10-2, 
4 miles southeast of York. 

First white child born in the county — Lillie M. Gilmore, 
June 3rd, 1866, she is now Mrs. J. E. Hunt of Bayard, 
Nebraska. 

First wedding in York County, Mr. N. J. Dixon and Miss 
Lydia A. Gilmore, married at E. Gilmore 's Febr. 27, 
1867, by Squire Millspaw. 

Second couple married, our own Mr. and Mrs. Ed Copsey, 
Oct. 27, 1867. 

First School District organized in West Blue Twpt. in 1869, 
was organized by Hon. G. B. France School Supt. of 
Seward County. (York Co. was part of Seward Co. at 
that date for judicial purposes). 

First school house, built in said Dist. in 7-9-1 in 1869, N. A. 
Dean helped haul logs to saw mill in Seward Co. to 
get lumber for helping build the house. 

First school taught in 1868 by Mrs. Nan Schaffee in Ed 
Copsey 's house in Henderson Twp. 

First Fourth of July celebration was held around the un- 
finished school house, West Blue Twp. in 1869, Rev. 
Mr. Caldwell was orator of the day. 




MRS. IJLLIE (ilLMOIiE HUNT 
First, Settler's White Cliild, Born i 
York County, June ;{, 18(U). 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 73 

First Post Office established on S. W. 1/4 8-9-2, 1867, Fer- 
nando McFadden P. M. 

First sermon preached 1868 at David Henderson's in Hen- 
derson Twp. Rev. Davis, a Baptist minister, held the 
service. 

First baptism, Andrew Houston, fall of 1871, by Rev. W. E. 
Morgan, at Brahmsteads & Kleinschmidt's unfinished 
store room, in York ; J. H. Bell held the bowl of water. 

First County Fair held in York 1873, N. W. Graves, Presi- 
dent. 

First Newspaper ''The York Monitor" June 6, 1872, E. H. 
White Editor and proprietor, a copy framed, can be 
seen at the York Republican Office. 

First case tried in the Dist. Court, Febr. 7th, 1872, a di- 
vorce case, before Judge Lake, Edward Bates Atty. for 
l^laintiff, divorce granted. 

First white child born in old York Precinct, Mrs. Alexander 
Stephens, at the Jack Stone Ranch, June 15th, 1867. 

First school taught in York by A. C. Montgomery in a 
claim shack just south of the public square on Lincoln 
Ave., 1870. 

First school house built in York 1871, John Shaw and J. P. 
Miller were the contractors and builders. 

First church was built in York bv the Presbyterians, spring 
of 1873. 

First couple married in Y^ork, Mr. William Heideman and 
Miss Caroline Reets, married by Judge D. T. Moore, 
Aug. 9, 1870, Mrs. Sarah N. Moore and^Mrs. Cap. Reed 
were witnesses. 

First physician located in York, Dr. Thomas Meyers, 1871. 

First store opened by El wood Bros, in 1870, succeeded in a 
few months by F. 0. and J. H..Bell. 

First bank established by Wm. McWhirter 1875, capital 
supposed to be $1500.00. Rules for buying good notes 



OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 



50c on the dollar, and paid 45c on the dollar for connty 
5\"arrants, and made loans at 5 per cent per month. 

First Railway train reached York August 1877. 

First Sunday School organized at D. T. Moore's residence on 
18-10-2 "in 1870, Mr. Moore was elected Supt. 

First Board of County Commissioners, Servetus Y. Moore^ 
L. F. WjTnan and David Buzzard. 

First County Treasurer, Julius W. Frost; First County 
Clerk, Edward Bates; First Sheriff, George Flock; 
First County Judge, D. T. Moore; First County Supt. 
W. H. Armstrong; First County Surveyor, Frank Man- 
ning; First Coroner, R, Fairbanks. ; 

First suit in York County was to recover a yoke of oxen^ 
one with bush of his tail off, costs in case $1.75. 

First Guardian Sarah Parker for Francis R. Stillwell, June 
.1, 1870. 

First Christmas gathering at Randall Fairbanks in Hender- 
son TAvp., 1867, the gathering was composed of the 
Waddles, Georges, Copseys, "\Yescots, Hendersons, 
Barses and Chaffees. The weather was so warm the 
children went barefooted, and Mr. Fairbanks took off 
his front door to enlarge his table. 

By W. E. Dajrton, Deceased. 
(Written for the Old Settlers Reunion.) 

I came to York County in the spring of 1871. That is, 
my parents brought me here. I was a kid in those days, 
and "Granny Biby, peace to her memory, said that with 
the exception of Dick Martin I was the meanest boy on the 
Blue River. Granny only said this, however, when she 
didn't want me to "cut her a stick of wood." At such 
times it was "Elmer, honey, won't you please cut old 
Granny a stick or two .of wood?" And the wood was al- 
ways forthcoming, and Granny was always liberal in pay- 
ment for the same. That in which she paid would not pass, 
with everybody as coin of the realm, but it would with a 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 



good many people, and it always did with me. It con- 
sisted of liberal twists of "long green terbacker," with an 
occasional "boiighten" piece thrown in. 

The Inmber with which my father bnilt his little hon^^e 
on the homestead was hauled from Lincoln. I remember 
that the neighbors who lived in soddies and dug outs 
thought Dayton was putting on too much style with his 
new frame house. It was a poor affair, compared with the 
house there now, and with the other houses in York County 
that have sprung up out of the prairies, but it was home. 
And that word "home" in the early days meant all the 
world to hundreds and thousands of hard working, brave 
men and women who sat down for the first meal under their 
own sod and willow brush, and they said the word and it 
had its full meaning. There was no landlord to divide the 
])rofits. The roof was their own. And though it was not a 
very good one, and leaked somewhat, yet it was not long 
before they made a better one to replace it. No matter how 
fine the houses may be now, we must always remember the 
cosy old soddies and dugouts that cradled Nebraska's 
greatness as a farming and commercial state. 

We will always remember the free, cordial life of those 
days, gone now for an easier, if not a better. Every man's 
house was his neighbor's. What one lacked was easily and 
freely macle up by another, and the bonds of universal 
brotherhood were never stronger any place on God's green 
earth than they were in York County in the good old home- 
steading days. 

A miracle was accomplished when these broad prairies 
were peopled. The buffalo had hardly disappeared from 
sight, frightened at the white spread of the prairie schoon- 
er's sails, till his trail was turned under by the braking 
plow of advancing civilization. Unbroken solitude here 
today. Tomorrow you passed the same s])ot and a habitual 
home was nearly ready for its occupants. Almost before 
the claim was staked the school district was organized and 
the teacher employed, justices and peace officers were 
elected, and the civil law that governed it in the old homes 
in the east had scarcely time to draw a full breath until it, 
was in perfect operation in the new home The church and 
the Sunday school came in with the movers' wagons in a 



76 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

little box under the feed box at the rear end, and it was 
taken out and set up before camp was pitched. With such 
men and women composing: the nucleus around which was 
built the population of Nebraska she could not have been 
otlier than the great State she is. Her good name and her 
peaceful character will stand monuments to their enterprise 
and integrity until men shall move no more. 



McCool Junction. 

McCool Junction was organized on the advent of the 
K. C. & 0. R. R. in York County, March the 28th, 1888, it 
is situated on East Half of the S. E. 1/4 13-9-3 and the S. W. 
14 18-9-2 and part of the N. E. 1/4 24-9-3 and is beautifully 
located on the banks of the West Blue river in the Blue 
River Valley and has one of the finest natural parks found 
in the state, "and is a great resort for Class Day, School and 
Sunday School Picnics. The village formerly had a saloon, 
but by the effort of the good people of the place, greatly 
assisted by the Catholic Church, rid themselves of the sa- 
loon, and the village has been built up and improved till it 
is one of the nicest little towns in the county, full of enter- 
prise, and surrounded as it is by a rich farming district, en- 
joys a good healthy business in all its lines of indi^stry. The 
first village officers were: J. J. Gilmore, W. E. Butler,. 
James Grier, H. Tolles and Thomas Henahan. Its present 
officers (1913) are: Frank Montgomery, Arthur Marshall, 
Lewis Walbrecht, Lloyd Hays, and Emmit Finney. 



Henderson. 

The Village of Henderson is located on the N. E. ^A 
Section 6-9-4 in Henderson Township, was incorporated 
October the 4th, 1899, soon after the F. E. & M. V. R. R. 
was built through the county, this road gave them direct 
communication with York and the east, and was a great 
convenience. The first Board of Village Trustees were: 
A. C. Neufeld, chairman; Peter Goosen, D. H. Tessman,^ 
D. J. Kroeker, J. P. Funk, and A. Franz secretary. 




MR. AND MRS. DAN GEORGE 

First Settlers in Henderson Township and Youngest 
Daughter, Mrs. Dr. J. M. Kilgore 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 77 



The village was located in the midst of a thrifty Ger- 
man settlement, which by their economy, frugal living and 
industry has become the wealthiest settlement in the 
county, and the village and country surrounding has more 
fine automobiles, and indications of luxury than almost any 
other part of the county. 

Henderson is well supplied with stores, has a good bank 
and all the conveniences of a thrifty village. 

Henderson has a good public school building and the 
Mennonites who constitute the principal part of the popula- 
tion have a large school of their own, and the only church 
building. 

Henderson had a saloon for several years, but it was a 
source of trouble and the good people of the place, in tho 
spring of 1912 voted to get along without a saloon. In the' 
spring of 1913 the friends of the saloon in some way se- 
cured enough votes to have the saloon again, but there 
seemed to be a legal question about reestablishing the sa- 
loon that could not be overcome and the saloon has never 
been reopened. 

The present board of Village Trustees are J. J. Morse, 
chairman; J. C. Wenzlaff, Johann Doell, D. D. Weins and 
A. M. Youst, with F. H. Tuschoif , secretary. 



Benedict. 

Benedict was incorporated in 1890 with J. W. Downing 
as chairman and G. M. Douglass as clerk. The Board was: 
J. W. Downing, 0. D. Keeler, Walter Scott, Robt. Caven- 
der and Cris Sparling. Scott and Cavender, deceased, 
J. W. downing in California and 0. D. Keeler and Cris 
Sparling yet in Benedict. G. M. Douglas the clerk, holds 
down a good position in Columbus. The present 
Board is W. J. Degraw, chairman; P. F. Conant, B. J. Huff, 
F. C. Wirth and James Marvel, with M. L. Cavender as 
clerk. A. Schneider has the credit of serving 14 years on 
the Board and 8 years as chairman. 



OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 



The first school taught in Benedict was by Frank 
Slagle; R. B. Brabham was director. 

In the winter of 1886-7, bonds were voted by Morton 
Township to aid the Kansas City & Omaha R. R., and in 
January 1887, there were slight evidences along the right 
of way on section 13, that a town was to be started there. 
A small grain office and scoophouse were the first, and for 
two months the only buildings. This village was named in 
honor of E. C. Benedict, president of the K. C. & 0. R. R. 
John Lett and the firm of Oughton & Stillwell drove into 
town the same day and same hour; the one from the West 
and the other from the East These men built houses at 
once for their business and also as residences for their fam- 
ilies. Mr. Lett went into the hotel business and Oughton 
& Stillwell opened the first grocery store. The Eckles 
building adjoining the hotel was put up at the same time, 
and used at once and for years after by the firm of Knott & 
Sparling, our first general merchandise dealers. These 
were followed by Miller & Downing, hardware; S. M. 
French, restaurant and confectionery; Baum, the druggist. 
In the meantime Dr. J. A. Van Dyke located and at once 
picked up a large practice, and proved to be a fine physician. 
Mr Levens erected a billard hall on the site of the present 
residence of F. M. Brabham. James Stoddard erected a 
building north of the livery barn of C. E. Anderson, and 
Barney Davis put up a second billard hall. These build- 
ings were afterward moved south onto Sherman street. 
Stoddard's building is now occupied by J. B. Marvel as a 
restaurant, and the other was owned and occupied for some 
years by J. B. Johnson, but is now fallen into decay and will 
soon be torn away to make room for a better building. 

Frank McConaughey opened the first bank with B. B. 
Crownover as cashier. The place now contains two banks, 
the First National and the Farmer's State Bank. Martin 
& Crownover were the first firm engaged in shipping live 
stock. Martin (Lee) died on his farm one mile south of Ben- 
edict, May 17th, 1893. Mr. Crownover (Elmer B.) resides at 
present uj5on a farm which he has just sold to H. A. John- 
son for $204 per acres — this lies adjoining the village on 
the west, and was formerly the home of Henry Harrington. 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 79 

(Jn Sunday, June 27tli, 1887, the first train, a construction 
train, pulled into our little village; there was a large con- 
course of people from the surrounding country to see it, 
and great was the rejoicing that now we could go to York 
without driving a team. The townsite had been taken oft' 
the farms of K. B. Crownover and Henry Harrington — 
sixty acres from each. Geo. Kinyon erected a blacksmith 
shop and a residence; Joe Downey a residence, and S. P. 
Stryker, a small hardware store in which he lived until able 
to i)ut up a residence on the block now owned by H. W. 
Hotf master, Sr. Here the first child born in Benedict first 
saw the light. Miss Alta Stryker, now a lady of some 26 
summers. The Doctor built him a cosy home where at 
])resent the M. K. ])arsonage stands. C. H. Dovenbarger 
erected a livery barn on the southwest corner of the block 
on which Dr. Karrer is building a fine residence. Later, 
Fairman & Harrington opened a general store on the 
west side of the E. E., east of the present residence of 
( ). B. Canfield. In August, E. B. Bi-abham came to town from 
his farm, and took upon himself the duties of Post Master, 
which office he held during the remainder of Pres. Cleve- 
land's first term, and was followed by John Le,tt, who in 
turn gave way to Mr. Brabliam again, when in 189"2. Mr.. 
Cleveland defeated Harrison for a second term. In 1896, 
however, the scales turned again, and John Lett was re- 
turned to power. He is yet Post Master and, if he can 
stand the Civil Service examination, is likely to serve for 
many years. 

In the fall of 1887, Jolni I^c tt was elected Justice of 
the Peace and served for six years or to January, 1894, wlie7i 
J. E. Hoover succeeded him and has held the office ever 
since, and Woe unto the man who falls into his clutches if 
))r()ven guilty of any serious misdemeanor. 

Benedict owns the Electric Lighting and Water plant, 
thus making a little money ou the side for the village. Our 
plant is acknowledged to be among the best to be found 
outside of the larger cities of the state. 

We have three Fraternal Lodges : The Modern Wood- 
men, A. 0. U. W., and Degree of Honor. These orders, in 
1907, with the help of some public spirited citizens, erected 



80 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

a fine Fraternal building- on the main street of the town, 
and all are justly proud of their Fraternal Hall, which cost 
$3,000, and was begnin without a dollar in the treasurey. 
There remains less than $500 of a debt against the i>ro.perty. 

The Presbyterian Congregation had, in 1884, built a 
church near the cemetery two miles west of the town, this 
building and the Parsonage was moved in, the summer of 
1889, and the Lutheran people erected their church the same 
3^ear. Rev. B. F. Sharp of York was the first Presbyterian 
Pastor, and Eev. Schneur was the first Lutheran Pastor. 
The Methodist people built some years later with the Eev. 
D. M. Buckner as their first Pastor. 

^Ir. "^""andeveer built a large grain elevator, Mr. Stryker 
also went into this business and A. L. Spragiie built a fine 
elevator north of the depot — these three grain firms went 
out of business and James & Bro. purchased the Vander- 
veer plant which is yet in operation under the management 
of the Hastings Grain Company, N. G. Ensey, manager. 
The other Elevators were taken down and removed to points 
in Kansas. The farmers some ten years ago, met and organ- 
ized the Farmer's Grain Association, erecting a large ele- 
vator, which has done a good business every year, paying 
a better price for grain than any of the surrounding towns 
have been paying, and, also, i^aying an 8 per cent dividend 
each year. The elevator has been under the management 
of A. J. Houston nearly ever since it was completed. E. E 
Conahaiighy put in a lumber yard here in 1888, which passed 
into the hands of the Rogers Lumber Co., which was bought 
out by the new Benedict Lumber & Fuel Association, an- 
other organization formed by the Farmers. This has prov- 
en to be a great success financially. In 1907, on the 15th of 
April the six buildings on the south half of the block 22, on 
Sherman street were destroyed by fire. A very heavy wind 
was blowing from the North West and it was with the 
greatest difficulty that the S. E. quarter of the town was 
saved. The Post Office and Miss Lett's Queensware stock, 
the barber shop, drug store, E. B. Brabham 's building and 
stock and the building and hardware stock of C. H. Doven- 
barger were destroyed with some salvage on the stocks. Mr. 
Dovenbarger built a fine brick store building on his lot, and 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 



S. J. Parker built a brick building- on the site of the barber 
shop, which is the home of the Village Club. 

Lushton. 

Lushton is situated on Section 25 in Henderson Town- 
ship, was surveyed and platted in the spring of 1887. The 
first board of village trustees was: A. Holmes, chairman; 
M. W. Strater, A. Cookus, M. D. Calkins, F. C. Williams, 
witli Ed. Allison Clerk and Homer Hager Treasurer. The 
K. C. & 0. R R. was completed through the county the same 
year. The first general store building was built in the spring 
of 1887 by the Dorsey Bros. They stocked up, and operated 
the store for one year then sold to Dailey & Farber who 
carried on the business for 10 years, Mr. 'Bailey moved to 
University Place and Mr. Farber died. During the summer 
of 1887 Mr. Albert Holmes built a general store building, 
stocked it, and has carried on a merchantile business, ancl 
kept the post office in connection with it for 26 years.' Mr. 
Holmes has always been identified with the interests, and 
prosperity of the village, and is really a part of it. Henry 
Grosshans of Sutton, and Philip Schwab built Suttons first 
elevator m the spring of 1888, the first load of grain was 
delivered in Lushton in the fall of 1887 and shovelled in a 
car, our genial friend, Mr. M. B. Thompson helped shovel 
the grain; the farmers at that time were very much elated 
over_ having a grain marl>:et right at their door instead of 
haulmg the long distance they had been accustomed to. 
During^the latter ]iart of 1887, J. J. Burras of Lincoln and 
C. N. Kincade of Lincoln organized the first lumber com- 
pany and stocked up October 1st of the same year. The yard 
was purchased by Mr. M. B. Thompson and successfully 
operated by him for a number of years. Mr. P. H. Purcell 
built and operated the first hardware store; and Mr. Edwin 
Moore the first drug store. William Cookus put in the first 
blacksmith shop and at this date, June 1913 will pound iron 
m any shape you ask for. Mr. William Walters built and 
operated the first hotel, a two story frame building on the 
east side of the main street. The first bank, ''The State Bank 
of Lushton" was organized in the spring of 1888 by George 
and Tom Clawson, and Mrs. Susan Dailey represented the 



82 OLD SETTLERS'EARLY HISTORY 

ladies in the first millinery store, and sold millinery for 
a number of years. AVill E. Vanderburg built and operated 
the first elevator in 1888, and the first church that graced 
the village of Lushton was moved in and rebuilt by the 
United Bretheren church. 

Lushton is a village of about 200 population in the 
midst of a thriving farming district, now has 2 elevators, 
1 harness shop, 2 cream stations, 1 hardware store, 2 general 
merchandise stores, 1 drug store, M. AV. A. Hall, black- 
smith shop, furniture and undertaking establishment, bank, 
hotel, meat market, confectionery, lumber yard, 2 churches, 
and an up-to-date school building. The Town has always 
done a good business, had a saloon one year but soon tired 
of it and joined the Prohibition ranks. 

The present Village Trustees are: A. Holmes, chair- 
man; J. L. Labart, V. A. Sickler, Fred Franz, J. L. Ashmore 
with K. Anderson Clerk and Treasurer. 

Bradshaw. 

In the fall of 1880 when the B. »Jc M. R. R. was extended 
from York to Grand Island the town of Bradshaw was 
established. The town was first located on Mr. AV. F. Mor- 
rison's farm a little east of where it now is, but was soon 
moved from there and located on the land owned by Messrs. 
0. E. and J. M. Eichards. 

Mr. W. D. Post opened up the first general store in 
Bradshaw in the fall of 1889, in the building now occupied 
by Mr. Yoder. The postoffice was then moved from Plain- 
lield to his store and he became Bradshaw 's lirst ])ostmaster. 
Mr. Post also acted as depot agent and telegraph operator, 
besides running a drug store and elevator and handling 
live stock. As a competitor in the grain business he had 
our then worthy citizen, Mr. 0. E. Eichards, who began 
buying grain the same time. To Mr. A. Linsley, now 
deceased, belongs the distinction of being the oldest resident 
of Bradshaw. He opened up a blacksmith shop, as soon as 
the town was located, near where the hotel now stands. 
About the same time Messers. LeCount and Knapp opened 



OF YOKK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 



the first liardwjire store. In the spring of 1881 Mr. O. 
A. Stiiljbs opened tlie second general store and became one 
of Bradshaw's business men. As a resident physician, Dr. 
A. R. Allen came first in the spring of 1882 and is thus 
one of Bradshaw's oldest residents. Thus the business 
enterprises began to increase and develop imtil at the pre- 
sent time we have an array of business firms of which we 
can well feel proud. 

The village of Bradshaw has had a sad as well as event- 
ful history, which placed her for a time in the long list of 
the ruined cities of the world. In the evening of the third 
day of June 1890, the residents of this little village and the 
surrounding country stood in helpless suspense and watched 
two peculiar storm clouds approaching, one moving from 
the northwest to the southeast, and one moving from the 
southwest to the northeast. The clouds met near the edge 
of Bradshaw and before the citizens could seek a place of 
safety the cyclone was upoji them. Not a house in the 
village but was damaged and most of them were entirely 
demolished. Business houses were ruined and many of 
thorn were swept away entireh'. The flood of rain and the 
intense darkness that followed made the situation most piti- 
able. Some of the residents were buried beneath the debris 
and many of them were injured — some fatally. As soon as 
l)Ossible the news was sent to York and right royally did 
the residents of that city respond with every possible assist- 
ance. 

It will ever ])e a credit to the pluck and energy of our 
citizens, some of whom lost every dolhir of their property, 
that in the face of tlie most appalling disaster and discour- 
agements they arose with faith and determination, and 
over the ruins of the past tlioy rebuilt their homes and re-es-. 
tablished their business. A stranger would never suspect 
now that this pleasant little village with its beautiful homes 
was ever in such utter ruin. 

The maiden name of Mrs. J. M. Richards was Mary 
Bradshaw and from her our village received its name.- 

The first board of trustees were: David Hitchcock, 
president; Harry Belcher, clerk; J. H. Currie, treasurer; A. 



84 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

Linsley, E. C. Buckley, H. M. Eichmond, and Henry Koch 
trustees. 

The present (1913) board of trustees are: J. H. Currie, 
chairman; C. B. Pahner, Jr., clerk; E. C. Eoggy, I. H. John- 
son, C. W. Gardiner and C. H. Bedient, trustees. 

Methodist Episcopal 

Doctor Babcoek built the first Methodist church in 
Bradshaw in 1882 and the name of the circuit was changed 
from York circuit to Bradshaw circuit. Eev. H. F. Tyler 
was appointed to this circuit in 1882 and moved the cldss 
from Eberhart to Harmony church. Then from 1883 to 
1886 came Eev. A. J. Marsh. He moved the class from Har- 
mony church to Bradshaw and built the main part of the 
present parsonage. Following him came A. J. Whitmore 
for one year. From 1887 to 1889 Eev. L. C. Lemon preached 
at Bradshaw and attended the Methodist college at York. 
From 1889 to 1890 Eev. W. H. Prescott labored on this 
charge, building an addition to the parsonage and rebuild- 
ing the church as it now stands after the destructive cyclone 
of June 3rd 1890. 

The following pastors have since served on the Brad- 
shaw work: Eev. C. S. Kathan 1890-1891; Eev. L. Morrison 
1891-1892; Eev. L. Ingham 1892-1893; Eev. C. L. Hamilton 
1893-1895; Eev. F. Deal 1895-1896; Eev. J. A. Chapin 1896- 
1897; Eev. W. K. Williams 1897-1898; Eev. H. G. Claycomb 
1898-1901; Eev. M. A. Wimberley 1901— 

Christian 

The Christians in the vicinity of Bradshaw were organ- 
ized May 15th, 1875, the congregation meeting for worship 
consisting of seven members: Benjamin !N[apes and wife, 
Christopher Owings and wife, Margaret Higgs, Wm.iViapes, 
Mary C. Hasbrouck, with Elder Noah Brotherton of Hamil- 
ton county, presiding. In the fall of the same year Sarah 
Hasbrouck and William F. Morrison were added. 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 85 

In the winter of 1879 E. Evans held a meeting in the 
Plainfield school honse just north of Bradshaw on the 
Owing- 's farm and organized a Sunday school, five additions 
were the fruit of that meeting. In the spring T. A. Parkin- 
son was hired as pastor. In 1881 they moved their place of 
worship to Bradshaw, where nine were added by letter. 

The church of Christ at Bradshaw was organized May 
18, 1884, with twenty-eight members. Elder Wohlgamuth 
presiding. In the spring of 1885 they commenced to build 
the church house that was blown down at the tinie of the 
cj^clone in 1890. Of that congregation three are here, some 
are deceased, most of them went west to find homes. In 
the fall of 1885 Wm. Eckerman held a revival, the fruit 
of that meeting was thirteen added, of that number five 
are still in the church. The evangelists who have held meet- 
ings since that time are: R. C. Barrows, D. A. Youtzy, J. &. 
Beem, A. W. Henry, A. W. Harney, N. B. Alley, A. D. Finde. 
The pastors who have labored for the church are C. W. 
Henry, A. W. Harney, E. C. Whitaker, H. E. Hotter. The 
student preachers are: H. J. Kennedy, Earl Boyd, F. W. 
Henry. 

Congregational 

In the latter part of 1879 Rev. Wm. Woolman of 
Hastings held services in the small school house a little 
northeast of what is now Bradshaw, then called Plainfield. 
Some time in February of 1880 a proposition was submitted 
to the Christians of the i)lace to organize a C^ongregational 
church. The following named persons consented to enter 
the organization: Dr. S. V. Moore, L. A. Moore, H. E. Sim- 
mons, A. P. Simmons, L. N. Buell, Mary Buell and H. E. 
Linsley. A council was called at the home of L. N. Buell 
IMarch 19, 1880 and was composed of pastor and delegates 
from the Arborville, Grafton, Seely, York and Council 
churches and H. N. Gates, superintendent of missions for 
Nebraska. Rev. C. S. Harrison of York was chosen moder- 
ator and Rev. W. S. Hampton, clerk. This council recom- 
mended that we be organized as the Congregational church 
of Bradshaw. The church was incorporated May 1, 1880, 
with Rev. Wm. Woolman pastor. The corner stone of the 



86 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

church was hiid Oct. 22, 1880, and the building dedicated 
free of debt June 2, 1882, and cost about $1,500 . 

The following ministers have served this church: 
Revs. Dyas, Winslow, Benton, Geer, Baker and Otis. The 
evening of June 3, 1890, the building was made a total wreck 
by the cyclone. 

Schools 

The first public school in the western half of York 
county was held in a little dug out over on Lincoln creek 
in 1872, with Mrs. A. Linsley as teacher. The district was 
eight by twelve miles in extent and known as district No. 
15. As the country was settled up the district was divided 
and other litle soddies were built. Then a "frame school" 
was started in Owens Bros, old store building, which stood 
on Mr. Steinberg's farm. In 1881 the first little school 
house was built in Bradshaw. To this additions were made 
from time to time as needed. But this, the toil and savings 
of many years, like the most of Bradshaw was laid in 
ruins in one brief hour. After the cyclone, as the district 
was already bonded to the limit, fifteen hundred dollars 
of the "cyclone fund" was used for a new building. To 
this was added five hundred dollars from the public schools 
of York county and five hundred dollars from the county 
board. 

Bradshaw has graduated two of her principals into 
the office of county superintendent, Mr. E. S. Franklin in 
1887 and E. C. Bishop in 1899. 

The following teachers have served as principals of the 
Bradshaw schools since 1881. Misses Sylvia Butler and 
Carrie Moffitt. Messrs. Geo. Greer, A, B. Codding, E. S. 
Franklin, Chas. Harlan, Wm. Bartz, H. B. McDermed, W. T. 
Oats, Fred Archard, W. S. Wright, W. T. Utterbeck, T. A. 
Gierins, J. H. Frew, E. C. Bishop, R F. Marquis and J. N. 
Peck. 

D. W Baker. 

D. Webster Baker was bora in 1854 in Fulton Co., Pa. 




JOHX liKTT 

President Old Settler's Association 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 



He grew to manliood on the farm where he was born, and 
in 1874 came with his parents and brother Francis A. to 
Nebraska, settling on Sec. 21, T. 12, R. 3, in York County 
near the site of his present home. In 1879 he married 
Esther A. Bhick at her home in Pennsylvania. He has been 
engaged in farming all of his life, but taught a few terms 
of school before getting established as a farmer. When 
still a young man Mr. Baker began to take an active in- 
terest in public affairs and was thereby soon led to accept 
various offices. He has been director of his home school 
district for 21 years. He was a member of the York County 
board of Supervisors from 1894 to 1898. In 1902 he assisted 
in organizing the Farmers' Grain Association of Benedict 
and was chosen president of the company. Was deputy as- 
sessor from 1904 to 1906. He was elected to the House of 
Representatives in 1906 and took an active part in the im- 
l)ortant legislation of the session of 1907. He was re-elected 
in 1908, and again in 1910, and although his party was in 
the minority during these latter sessions he was given a 
place on some of the most important committees of the 
House. 

Mr. Baker is a member of York Lodge No. 56, A. F. & 
A. M., also of Solomon Chapter No. 33 and Joppa Com- 
mandry No. 17, all of York. 



John Lett. 

John Lett was born in Richland County, Ohio, Febru- 
ary 28th, 1841, and as a consequence, looks forward to the 
day when he shall be elected to the Presidency of this 
great Republic, as have so many sons of that favored state. 

When he was but four months old his parents moved 
to Cedai- County, Iowa, settling in the town of Tipton, and 
entering 80 acres of government land adjoining the town. 
His mother died when he was but eight months old, leaving 
his father with five small children, one, a brother two years 
older, blind. His father, Abraham Lett, was in a bad pre- 
dicament for with so many little children, he could do but 
little work himself and so he looked about him for a good 
woman to mother his little flock, and fortunately, he sue- 



OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 



ceeded in finding a splendid woman who came into the fam- 
ily and proved to be a blessing to that group of motherless 
young ones, for, although she had reared 18 children of her 
own, she managed the household well and gained the confi- 
dence and affection of her new brood. 

At the age of 20 years, Mr. Lett enlisted in Co. E, 11th 
Iowa, Vol. Infantry for three years "or during the war," 
and at the expiration of his first term of enlistment re- 
enlisted for another three year term. He participated in 
the battles of Shiloli, Corinth, luka, Vicksburg and Kene- 
saw Mountain. It is now generally admitted in ami about 
Benedict, where he has reigned as Postmaster for twenty 
years, that he and W. V. Powell were chiefly instrumental 
in winning the battle of Shiloh, and if their attention had 
been called to the matter a little earlier in the day they 
would have saved Gen. AVallace's Division from capture. 

He was in Sherman's Atlanta campaign and made the 
''march to the sea" with other thousands of brave men. 
From Savanah to the battle of Bentonville, N. C. and then 
on to Washington to take part in the "Grand Eeview" 
which marked the end of the great Civil War. In the 
last year of the conflict he had been promoted to the rank 
of Corporal, and then to Quartermaster Sergeant of his 
Eegiment. 

Discharged from the service, he came home and soon 
thereafter, November 25, 1865 was married to Miss Carrie 
Draucher, a sister to Arthur and David, who were for a 
long time residents of this county. Mrs. Lett was born in 
Clearfield County, Pa., June 13th, 1844. They went onto 
the old home farm of his father, and lived there happily 
until the Spring of 1871, the great tide of emigration rush- 
ing through Iowa for the free lands of Nebraska set them 
to thinking that they too, were entitled to a quarter-section 
of land, and John came out and took up the N. E. Quarter 
of Section 32, Town 12, Range 3 in what is now Morton Twp. 
Going back to Iowa to clear up his affairs, he returned to his 
homestead with his family in October, 1871. He was forced 
to occupy a sodhouse owned by R. M. Lytle until he could 
put up one like it. He had just $3.00 in money to winter 
his wife, three children, two horses and two cows. They 



i 




M. SOVEKEKiX AM) (;H.\M)|)AI (iHTKR 



OF YORK COUNTY. NEBRASKA 89 

wintered after a fashion that would not at all be popular 
with the average young couple of today. They had a little 
hominy and one sack of flour in their wagon when they ar- 
rived, and a can of kerosene that kept company with his food 
supply, and John says that he can taste that oil to this 
day, for they had to eat it for it was a groundhog case. 
Mr. Lett was a member of the first Grand Jury held in this 
county. In the summer of 1872 he lost a horse and traded 
for a yoke of oxen, which were used on the farm and to go 
to church and to York to do his trading. The ox team made 
a great hit at 4tli of July celebrations. Eight children 
were born to him, one of which died in infancy, and Es- 
tella at the age of 27. The great Easter blizzard and the 
several raids of the grasshoppers are vividly remembered. 
In 1875 the family moved to York, where he engaged in the 
selling of farm machinery and seeds. While living in York 
he served two years as assessor, and was also elected Com- 
mander of the Grand Ainny Post. In 1880 he moved back 
to the homestead, where going behind year after year, he 
moved to the new town of Benedict, and was one of the 
first two families settling in that village. Here he built and 
operated the first hotel. About this time he was elected 
Justice of the Peace and sei'ved with satisfaction for six 
years, also procuring a notary's commission, in which ca- 
pacity he still serves the public. When Mr. Cleveland re- 
tired from the presidency, he secured the post office and is 
yet postmaster, after more than twenty years' service. He 
has served under Lincoln (as a soldier), Harrison, Cleve- 
land, McKinley, Roosevelt and Taft, and thus far under 
Professor T. Woodrow Wilson. 

In 1885, he was elected Department Commander of 
Nebraska G. A. P., and had the intense satisfaction of 
leading 20,000 men at the Reunion in Denver, Colo. Mrs. 
Lett passed away August 1, 1912 at the age of 68 years 
She was buried by the side of her two daughters in beauti- 
ful Greenwood Cemetery at York. 

M. Sovereign. 

M'. Sovereign homesteaded in what is now Thayer 
Township in 1872, and with his family moved on the place 



90 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

in the spring of 1873, just in time to get the full benefit of 
the Great Easter Storm while living in a half finished 
frame house. The storm raged for three days and nights 
with such fury it was at the risk of one's life to venture 
from the house to the stable. After the storm was over 
I took my shovel and went to the home of S. W. Sidwell, 
who lived in a dug-out. The only sign of a residence was 
the stove pipe sticking up through the snow. I went to 
the pipe and asked Mr. Sidwell what he was doing down 
there! He promptly •t-eplied he was reading the B. & M. 
advertisements about the beautiful climate of Nebraska. 
After the destructive grasshopper raid of 1876 we decided 
to sell out aud leave the country, and sold our fine 160- 
acre farm, with frame house, 120 acres broke out, stable 
and well, for $1000.00, but the purchaser failed to complete 
the settlement till too late to go elsewhere: the next spring, 
and C. R. Keckley was about to marry a girl who had a claim 
she could not hold if married, and I bought her 160 acres 
for $100.00 and moved on the land in the spring 1877, re- 
mained and improved the farm till elected County Clerk 
in the fall of 1881. While living on our homestead we found 
congenial neighbors and friends. I think the early settlers 
in York County among the best in all the qualities that go to 
make first-class citizens. A neighbor family who had moved 
in the best circles in the East, came in their lumber wagon 
and ox team one afternoon — five miles, to make us a visit, 
we had a splendid time till about midnight, they hitched 
their ox team to their wagon and started across the prairies 
to their home. 

In the fall of 1881 I was nominated on the republican 
ticket for County Clerk, and ran against Mr. Black of West 
Blue Township, the democrat nominee. In canvassing the 
county I frequently met my friend, T. E. Sedgwick, who was 
working for the other fellow, but since my election Mr. 
Sedgwick has been one of my warmest friends. 

After I was elected County Clerk we moved to York, 
I served four terms, and have made York my home since. 
Was elected Mayor of the city for 1906-7 and am proud of 
the fact that witli the able assistance of every member of the 
city council, and the city attorney, the. first paving con- 
tract was let, and work begun on the first paving district ; 




X. A. DKAX 

Came to York County in 1868 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 91 

ground was secured free for East Hill Park; the Gas Plant 
was installed; the first cement crossing in York was made 
across Academy Avenue, on the north side of West 6th St. 
Lincoln Cox did the work under the supervision of H. W. 
Brott, a practical mason, and member of the city council. I 
remember with pleasure the concerted action of the Council 
in all these improvements, and all the business of the city. 
The Council were half democrats and half republicans, and 
I remember but one vote taken during the two years that 
was not unanimous. I have now, this year of 1912 lived 
out all my own time, three score years and ten, and am living 
on borrowed time, and feel that I would like to borrow as 
long as they have any time to lend. In writing these few 
incidents many events in my life come fresh to my mind, 
some I would like to forget, and many are refreshing and 
inspiring as a morning shower. 

Nathaniel A. Dean 

Nathaniel A. Dean was born in Allegheny County, 
Maryland in 1850; with his parents he moved to Somerset 
County, Pa., in 1852, and attended the public school until 
1866, the close of the war. In 1867 with his brother-in-law, 
R. Brooke, he made a trip over the greater part of Kansas, 
and sto])i)ed for the winter at Maryville, Nodaway County, 
Mo., where Brooke purchased a farm and lived. 

In the year 1868, being a boy of 18 years, I saddled up 
my pony, took my lariat rope and started for the Great 
American Desert; I crossed the line into York County and 
the second day of October, 1868, my first sto]) was at John 
Anderson's who had ,iust homesteaded the first homestead 
in York County, and I wintered with ''Uncle" Elias Gil- 
more on the "Blue." 

I was one of the first that signed the petition to Gov. 
David Butler for the permanent organization of York 
County; April, 1870 we had our first election; there were 
three voting precincts organized, one on the "Blue," one 
where York now stands and one in the Northern ])art of the 
County; at the same election we voted and located the 



9 2 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

County Seat, wliieli is now York. I voted on the ''Blue" 
and we polled fifty-one votes and elected the first officers 
on the lot now stands the Blodgett Hotel. (See names York 
County Historj'^). My first two years in York County were 
full of experiences, — buffalo hunting, elk and antelope; 
part of the time I associated with the Indians, but when it 
came to their eating- I preferred my own cooking as they 
relished stale animals, and skunks. In the fall of '79 I 
spent some of that time at "Old Fort Kearnej^" reading 
novels of "Buffalo Bill," "Kit" Carson and "Calamity" 
Jane, I was anxious to see them, and I spent some happy 
days with them. 

In 1870 Peter Heller, with his family, moved from Iowa 
to York County; fortunately for me he had a young lady 
of seventeen years, and I persuaded her parents to give her 
to me; on Christmas day 1871 at high noon in a sod house, 
on a dirt floor was where she promised to protect me; to 
this union there were eight children, four boys and four 
girls, all born raised and schooled in York County, and they 
have made York County their homes all their lives. 

We were like all young married people in those days 
in York County; all we had was our name, money was a 
thing of the past, everything was purchased through trade. 
We dried buffalo meat and traded for dishes and furni- 
ture to commence housekeeping. We made our bedstead, 
chairs and tables out of slabs sawed out of cottonwood that 
I sawed myself on the Blue River in the first saw mill in 
this county. We have held our own these 44 years, as the 
old saying is — "a poor man for babies." I helped cut the 
logs and with ox teams we hauled the same to Milford, 
Nebraska saw mill, and with the lumber we built the first 
school house in York County. The first team that I ever 
owned was an ox team, I paid for the same by breaking 
prairie, now on the quarter section that Geneva, Nebraska, 
stands upon. Our first trading after coming to this coun- 
try was done in Nebraska City; it would take with our ox 
teams two weeks and over if the weather was good to make 
the trip. We have experienced in these forty years all 
kinds of Nebraska weather; went through the grass-hop- 
pers' season, the storm of 1873 and also in 1888 which his- 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 93 

tory has so well recorded. My homestead was on the 
'Beaver," nine miles east of York, and I afterwards moved 
np on the divide south of York. In 1886, with my family, 
I moved into the city and tried all kinds of business, and, 
the citizens of York know the results. In '89 four of us 
organized the U. B. church and in '90 with the Rev. Jones 
from Gibbon we organized what is now our York college; 
that year I was elected Treasurer of the College, and have 
held the position ever since. 

^ Daniel Graves 

Daniel Graves was born in Ruthland County, Vermont, 
June 22nd, 1844. In 1847 he left the Green Mountain state 
with his parents by the way of the Great Lakes, there being 
no railroads east of Chicago at that time, and settled in Mc- 
Henry County, Illinois, where he was reared, and in the com- 
mon schools of that state obtained his education. At an 
early age he began work upon the farm, and throughout 
life has continued to follow agricultural pursuits. Although 
lie started out for himself at the age of twenty-one empty 
handed, he soon became the owner of a small farm of fifty- 
six acres in Illinois. 

In 1872 Mr. Graves was united in marriage with Miss 
Martha Loonier, to this union was added the birth of seven 
children: two little daughters are deceased; while the living 
are, Almira G., Nora M., Daniel, Jr., Mabel P., Henry C. 
Mira G., and Nora M., were born in Marengo, Illinois, the 
rest being born in York County, Nebraska. 

On selling his farm in Illinois, in 1877 he came to York 
County, Nebraska, and purchased four hundred acres of 
railroad land on section 11, Arborville Township, and as his 
financial resources increased, he has added to his posses- 
sions until lie now owns one thousand and forty acres, 
which he has transformed from wild prairie into highly cul- 
tivated fields . 

In connection with his farming he fed cattle for over 
twenty-five years. His five living children are at this date 
located on his various farms in York County, Nebraska. In 



94 OLD SEETTLBRS' EARLY HISTORY 

the year 1901 lie was afflicted with a paralj^tic stroke which 
unfitted him for manual labor. After remaining on the old 
farm eight years longer, he decided to move to York, pur- 
chased property, and built a modern home in the fall of 
1908, at 916 East Avenue. He has passed the past eleven 
years in California and Florida, the winters here being too 
severe for health. 

Julia A. Brown 

I came to York County in 1881 — I know something of 
the disapi)ointments and sacrifices one has to make to live in 
a new prairie countr}^ Driven from the Southwestern part 
of the state by hot winds and prairie dogs, we were very 
discouraged and finances low. I decided to locate in York 
for my future home. 1 took up the vocation of nurse. I 
have seen the gradual rise, but no fall of York for 28 years; 
saw the big fire on the South side in which my son, AY. T. 
Brown at present a resident of Fairmont, Nebraska, got 
hurt and was left a cripple. 

York is called the banner city of Nebraska; I love it 
for its high standard of morals and enterprise of citizens 
wearing the wonderful fabric of life that shall be a contribu- 
tion to the Heavenly World. 

George Wallace Post 

Born at Cumberland, Guernsey County, Ohio, February 
20, 1848. The son of Rev. William E. and Sarah S. Post, 
both of Scotch lineage. 

When about three years old the family removed to Hib- 
bardsville, Ohio, where the family resided until about the 
year 1859 when the entire family removed to Clay County, 
Missouri. This was just before the War of the Rebellion. 
Political animosity soon became so pronounced that men 
known to be in sympathy with the Union were not safe in 
that part of the country. The father of the subject of this 
sketch was an outspoken anti-slavery advocate and friend 
of the Union. As a result practically all of his property was 
confiscated and destroyed and he, glad to get away with the 




Jl'IXJE (iEOHCJE \V. I'OST 

Attorney in First i.aw Suit in York County 



OF YORK COUXTY, NEBRASKA 9 5 



members of liis family luiinjiirecL The family then located 
at Leon, Deeatnr C'onnty, Iowa, from whieli place they re- 
moved a year later to Davis County, Iowa, near Bloomfield, 
where the father died in 1868 leaving a widow and six chil- 
dren, two danghters and four sons. In May 1864 the subject 
of this sketch enlisted in Company D. 45th Iowa Infantry 
and was di charged in September of the same year by reason 
of the expiration of the term of service. 

In addition to the Public Schools he was educated at 
the Troy College, an instituLion then flourishing at Troy, 
Iowa. By teaching school and working In- the month lie 
earned the money to assist his mother and family and pay 
his way through school. While in school he also devoted 
a ]iart of his time to reading law and in 1871 was admitted 
to the Bar at Bloomfield, Iowa. Soon after this he came to 
York, Nebraska and engaged in practice of his profession. 
From 1871 to 1875 he was active in his profession, 
oemg engaged in much of the important litigation in this 
])art of the State. In 1875 he was elected District judge of the 
Fourth Judicial District, which comprised the counties of 
Dodge, Colfax, Platte, Merrick, Hall, Howard, Hamilton, 
Polk, Butler, Saundei's, Seward and York. Four years later 
he was elected to the same office. Before the expiration of 
his second term he was forced to resign his office by reason 
of ill health, which was induced by overwork. On March 
5th, 1883 he was appointed Collector of Internal Revenue 
and United States Disbursing Officer for Nebraska, North 
Dakota and South Dakota. This appointment came to him 
without solicitation on his part. Pie discharged the duties 
of that office until October 188(), at which time he resigned in 
order to devote himself to his personal business. In 1872 he 
issued the first call for a Republican Convention in York 
County and ])i'csided over the convention. He was Chairman 
of the Coimty Republican Committee for many years. He 
was the chief attorney for the Northwestern Railway Com- 
pany south of the Platte River during all of its construction 
]>eriod. 

He was united in mai-riage on January 1, 1879 with 
Miss I^aura McConaughy, at Mount Pleasant, "West More- 
land County, Pennsylvania. To them have been born five 
children, four daughters and one son. 



9 6 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

On retiring from public office lie devoted himself to the 
business of banking, in which he was already interested. 
On March 20, 1884 he was elected President of the York Ex- 
change Bank. This bank was soon reorganized as the York 
National Bank, of which he was elected President and con- 
tinued as such until October 1893 at which time he and his 
business associates bought the First National Bank of York, 
and consolidated the two banks and operated the same as 
the First National Bank. He served as President of this 
bank until August 1912. He organized and became Presi- 
dent of the First Trust Company of York in August 1911. 
He organized and became President of the Bank of Benedict 
November 27, 1889, and continued as such President until 
February 8, 1906, at which time the bank of Benedict was 
converted into the First National Bank of Benedict. He 
served as President of this bank until August 1912. On 
May 14, 1897 he and his business associates organized the 
State Bank of Bradshaw. He served as President of this 
bank until March 1906, at which time this bank was con- 
verted into the First National Bank of Bradshaw. He was 
elected President and served until August 1912. In June 
1889 he became President of the Blue River Bank of McCool 
Junction and served as such until August 1912. In April 
1902 he bought the controlling interest in the Bank of Lush- 
ton and served as Vice-President until August 1912. In iMay 
1885 he became President of the Farmers & Traders Bank of 
"Waco and served continuously as President until August 
1912. In November 1890 he and his business associates or- 
August 1912. Thus making an aggregate bank sers^ice in 
York County of almost one hundred and fifty years. 

He has also served the city as Mayor, Councilman, Park 
Commissioner, etc., etc. 

As president of the First National Bank of York he 
erected the present bank building on the Corner of Lincoln 
aVenue and Sixth Street, in which the bank at this time is 
situated. At the time of writing this sketch he has sold a 
large part of his property in York County and is about to 
remove with his family to California. 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 



A. W. Wirt 

Few Facts From Town 11-12, R. 3. 

"Forty Years Ago" 

First visit to Free-soil Nebraska and first State Fair 
held at Lincoln, Sept. 1872. With Brother, A. B. Codding 
from Mendota, 111., filed on Sec. 14, T. 12, R. 3. A. B. C. on 
Sec. 3-1:. (Moved Mar. 1873). On Easter Snnday, April 12, 
at Sunset we watched the approach of the noted Easter 
Blizzard coming from the northwest in a perfect half circle 
like a new hemisphere had broken loose, snre it was a "scare 
sight." Fleeing before it birds of all kinds, buzzards, 
hawks, owls and crows. They were frightened, wearied and 
fell to the ground. The storm lasted three days and nights, 
many families had just moved into new sod shanties. There 
was much suffering and lack of fuel and shelter for stock; 
one young man perished in the effort to care for his team. 
Other families took their team — their only support — ^into 
the shanty with them, it was the only refuge, they could not 
see them perish at the door. Many cattle drifted with the 
storm and snow and perished. The wind and snow was so 
fierce and blinding that tlie only safe ])]ace was the sod shan- 
ty, and stay there. 

Then, there cometli another evil that no man knowetli 
from whence it came — That grasshopper raid, Aug. 1874. 
They came as clouds, dropping to the earth and covering the 
ground and consumed immense stuff for a meal. They re- 
mained three days and nights and ate the entire corn crop 
of the county, which was earing fine; they ate leaf, ear and 
stalk. (Wheat was in shock). Their green eyes beheld 
every tender leaf and ])lant. Wife's garden was her sum- 
mer's delight and promise, but while we slept they ate it 
top and root; with open hole in the ground, turkeys and 
chickens feasted till ashamed and disgusted; faithful teams 
shook their maius and snorted like "Pharaoh's Horses." 
Cows broke loose and ran for relief, the women cried. The 
grasshoppers went as they came — suddenly and in clouds, 
they shadowed the sun and the men said, "Lord we are 
willing," and we went nine miles to Sunday school. Wife 
and baby Nellie and papa, (to balance) went, on a riding 



98 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

corn plow rig and bnggy box to Capt. Eberliart's school 
house in 1875. New frame school house on Sec. 8, Town 11, 
R. 2, by M. Sovereign's homestead. A Sunday school was 
easily organized, — house full — Sovereign, Superintendent; 
Hon. Wm. H. Keckley, Bible teacher. The whole vicinity 
rallied like soldiers to their flag, it was a place for prayer, 
song and cheer. Stronisburg Sunday School sent invita- 
tions to visit them. Father Keckley moved: "If anybody 
goes, we all go." We had two four-horse (long reach) 
rigs, decorated, mounted by U. S. flag, school banner, and a 
set of sleigh bells on both teams to lead the way. With F. 
J. Parris and Samuel Sidwell as marshals to kee]) the 
music quiet, for it was Sunday. To say the least, Stromsburg 
gave a happy greeting and the shady grove on the Blue 
River for our ])icnic dinner — "Remember the Jov Life as 
Well." 

The last wild buffalo: Three stray grazers were seen 
the summer of 1874 in Northwestern part of county and just 
northwest of York. One was shot by Jess Gandy near the 
Washburn Ranch on Lincoln Creek; the other two unawares, 
came very close to three women who were taking a walk 
to Joe Boyers, they were Mrs. R. B. Brabham, Mrs. Wm. 
Greer and Mrs. Ronaga, (One lost her knitting, another her 
shoes) The two remaining bufl^alo were shot, one near 
Stromsburg in a pool, the last at South Bend on the Platte. 

Incidents to Happy Settlers Only, In Perfect Accord With 

All Neighbors. 

For 20 miles around— (The Corn Stalk Fire.) 
Rather lend than borrow — (The flour sack.) 
Rather help than pay money — (The money bag.) 
Rather visit than hunt or fish — (The men.) 
Rather be at ease than curse the flees — (The women.) 
Rather be content than quench the spirit — (The wolf.) 
Rather stay than fail getting away — (The family.) 
"Fortv Years Ao-o" 1912. 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 99 



Chas. M. Sandall 

Charles M. Sandall was bom in Sweden, Dec. 28, 1845, 
came with his parents to America in 1858, settling in Henry 
county, Illinois, where they lived one year, then moved to 
Hening- connty, Iowa. Here he lived with his parents nntil 
the fall of 1871 when he came West, taking a homestead in 
York county, Nebraska, on Sec. 34, Twp. 11, Range 3. The 
following si)ring he returned to Iowa and on Feb. 20, 
1872 was married to Miss Fredricka Anderson; they started 
the next Spring in a movers' wagon for their new home in 
Nebraska and lived on the homestead five years and then 
sold and moved one mile west, where they have lived ever 
since. 

They were blessed with nine children: Clars, Silas, 
Kebeka, Oscar, Esther, Othillia, Ernest, Fred and Rudolph, 
of which eight are still living. Othillia leaving her earthly 
home Feb. 14, 1910, also a little daughter who now makes 
her home with her grandparents. 

Mr. Sandall and wife are charter members of the Swed- 
ish Lutheran church which was organized 1874, and are still 
active members. His wife being the first Swedish lady in 
York county. Mr. Sandall has been largely instrumental in 
bringing the Swedish people to this community. 

Daniel Beishline 

Daniel Beishline was born in (-olumbia county, Penn- 
sylvania, April 17, 1850, and was one of a family of Levi 
and Maria (Wenner) Beishline who were natives of the same 
state; whose i)arental grandparents were Henry and Eliza- 
beth (Yost) Beishline, of German ancestry from Father's 
and Mother's side, and on the Mother's side were Daniel 
AVenner and Betsie — name not remembered, was married 
to Miss Emma J. Coleman of Ashbury, Columbia county, 
Pa., Nov. 27, 1873. He tried farming in Pennsylvania four 
years during which time a little girl came to stay with them 
and was named AV'rnie Maud, she was born September 30, 
]85(); they then sold out and came to Nebraska by railroad 
in January, 1878, arrived in Fairmont and visited with 
Hiram Ammerman a few days, who had come to Nebraska 



100 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

tlie year before, and lie was a neighbor in Pennsylvania. 
From there we came to Wm. H. Coleman's, who had home- 
steaded on section 10, range 4, town 11, a few years prior- 
to that date; a brother of Mrs. Beishline farmed for him 
fonr years and then bonglit eighty acres of Eailroad land 
for $5.00 per acre on section 9, and leased 40 acres of School 
land on section 16. He built a sod house that fall and lived 
in it one winter without it being plastered and it afforded us 
shelter for thirteen years; its walls were two feet thick, cur- 
tains separated the bedroom from the kitchen. The break- 
ing of the prairie was begun and by the next Spring we 
sowed forty acres of wheat. More prairie was broken as 
time would permit until the farm was broken out. In 1892 
we built a comfortable farm house which seemed the more 
pleasant because of the long time it was waited for; we 
lived through many ups and downs and it seemed like more 
downs than ups. 

We since bought other pieces of land, one forty on 
section 16 we paid $20.00 per acre for, this was about six 
years later, and in 1908 we bought forty acres more for 
which we paid $95.00 ])er acre. Three children came to bless 
our home in Nebraska as follows: Warren Clark, Jan. 26, 
1883; Robbert Ray, April 27, 1890; Mearl Lee, Sept. 13, 1893. 
Vernie Maud is now married to Edd Ottie and is living on 
part of the farm. Warren Clark is in Cherry county on a 
640-acre homestead, Robbert Ray is with Warren and is 
looking for a homestead. Mearl is at home helping to run 
the farm. 

M. Burns 

M. Burns, the subject of this sketch was born at Pekin, 
Niagara county, New York, on the 14th day of October, 
1837 in a double-log house. At that time, those log houses 
were very common, the country was new and the people 
were generallj^ poor. The land was stony and covered with 
heavy timber that had to be cleared from the land before 
anything could be grown to suppot the thinly inhabited 
country. Boys like myself on the farms, before they were 
hardly in their teens, had to shoulder the ax and help in cut- 
ting the timber and clearing the land so that crops could be 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 101 

grown, working side by side with the fatliers during the 
summer season and often during the winter. 

It was my ]n'iviloge to attend the district school during 
the winter months until I had nearly reached manhood; 
then it was my i)rivilege to attend a private school for two 
winter terms, where I perfected myself in the higher 
branches then necessary' to qualify a person for teaching. 
After I reached my majority, I attended what was then 
Genesse College, located at Lima, New York, since changed 
to Syracuse University. 

I enlisted on the 8th day of August, 1861, in the 41:th 
Eegiment of New York A'olunteers' Infantry and went with 
the Regiment down to Halls Hill, Virginia, as first Regiment 
of Company B; was taken sick while in camp, and sent to 
the hospital in Washington, being discharged from the ser- 
vice on the 19tli day of April, 1862. Recovering somewhat 
from my sickness, I went to Plainfield, Illinois, in the fall of 
1863 and commenced teaching, first in country schools and 
later in graded schools. While living there and teaching, 
I became acquainted with Miss Malvina C. Hess and on 
March 15, 1865, we were married. From that union were 
born two children; Ritey H. and Abbie C, Ritey H. died in 
1890, Abbie C. is still living. We came to Nebraska in the 
S])ring of 1878, on the 15th day of March. My wife having 
two sisters living in York county, we went directly there 
and bought some Union Pacific land, in what was then call- 
ed North Blue Precinct. I built a small house to live in, and 
then commenced seven years of hard work with a determina- 
tion to make it win. I i^old the farm in 1885, feeling satis- 
that I had realized my determination. 

In 1880, the people of York and Hamilton Counties 
honoi-ed me by the election to the State Senate. I came to 
Lincoln in 1888, and entered the hardware business, I sold 
it out and went back to York in 1892, in charge of the Farm- 
ers and Merchants Bank. Sold that out and came to Uni- 
iversity Place in 1898, where I now reside. 

As I review the past years I come to the conclusion that 
at the time it was wise for me to come to Nebraska. I have 
seen the ups and downs, financially, that come to most per- 
sons in a new country, and a dark shadow came over my life 



102 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

when on the 26th day of September, 1908, I was called to 
lay away in her last resting place the wife who had been my 
strength and snpport for so many years. She had gone to 
her reward, and I am alone in the years that are old. Init 
there is comfort in meeting my friends of my earlier Ne- 
braska exjoeriences. 

I always think of York County and the City of York 
as the nicest county and city tliere is on the American con- 
tinent. 

Recollections of a York County Pioneer 
Sebastian Gilmore 

I first set foot on York County soil in West Blue Town- 
ship in the month of November, 1866. I homesteaded in 
the same township in 1868, being too young to homestead 
until this date. 

When we look back and compare York county now, 
we old settlers can fully realize the great change that has 
taken place in the forty-six years that have i)assed. In 1866 
it was a vast prairie, almost a desert, with a little timber on 
the Blue River, with elk, deer and buffalo frequently ventur- 
ing to the river for water, with the Indians camping on the 
river banks, and it seeming a paradise to them, with every- 
thing that really made it an example of the typical Frontier. 
Indeed a very uninviting place for the white settlers. No 
postoffice was nearer than Camden, a little station on the 
Freight Road in Seward County, located about five miles 
north of the present City of Crete. The mail was brought to 
this i)lace from Nebraska City on horse-back. 

A change came when the capitol was located at Lin- 
coln. We got permits to establish a postoft'ice on the Blue 
River. In 1869, the writer had the privilege of carrying the 
mail from Lincoln to McFadden Postoffice, which was locat- 
ed near the present site of McCool, on pony back. This was 
a part of the old Star Route Mail System. 

My route took in the following Post Offices: Milford^ 
Camden, West Mills, Beaver Crossing, Blue A^alley and Mc- 
Fadden. I planned to make the route trip once every week 




SKIJAS'I I.AX GII..M<)I{K 

Helped Build First Frame Residence in York County, West 
Blue Township 



OF YORK (^OUNTY, NEBRASKA 103 

but soiiH'tiiiK'S I failed on account of bad sno\v storms, which 
woukl till up the ravines and make them difficult to cross, 
for very few of them were bridged. 

Perhaps it would be of interest to mention one of my 
, experiences on the mail route during the winter: 

One morning on arising, at West Mills, I found that a 
terrible blizzard was raging which was a common thing in 
those days. I was already one day behind time and I 
thought that I must make the rest of the trip that day at 
all hazards. I started out but liad only gone a little way 
when I came to a deep ravine, drifted level full. I knew my 
pony could never break a path through the drift and carry 
me, so I got off, tied the mail sack on the saddle quite secure- 
ly I thought, and led the pony through. When I reached the 
other side I found my mail sack was gone. I knew it would 
never do to go on without it for I never would dare to go on 
up the Valley without any mail, so tying my pony to a 
tree I waded back through the path almost to the other side 
and found the mail buried in the snow. 

This excitement warmed be up a little and I mounted 
my pony and came on up the River and delivered the mail 
that day. 

Many like experiences fell to my lot that winter. I 
received as a salary about six dollars a trip. 

I still live on the same homestead that I took in 1868. 
However, we do not get our mail once a week as then, but 
instead, every morning it is brought to the door in an auto- 
mobile. While this is more convenient, it certainly cannot 
be more appreciated than the mail brought on the old Star 
Eoute, for that was to a great extent the only touch of the 
life we had lived in the East, that was open to us . 

Reminiscences of Pioneer Days 
By L. D. Stilson, Soldier and Farmer 

I was born July 26, 1839, in Erie county, N. Y., and lived 
there until the breaking out of the war of 1861-65, when on 
September 16th, 1861, I enlisted in Companv D, 49th Regi- 



104 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

ment, N. Y. Volunteers and went to the war and was soon 
partaker of the incidents of warfare. A bullet struck me in 
my chin passing- up into my mouth thus rendering the eating 
of hard tack an unpleasant task. At another time I was put 
with others to digging trenches; an accident occured which 
nearly proved serious. A man behind me in the trench, struck 
me across my back with his pick, accidentally of course. In 
the battle at Antietam I was wounded in the. head and was 
unconscious for some time, when I came to the battle was 
over and dead soldiers all around me, but at last I was picked 
up and taken to the hospital; as soon as I recovered I was 
again at my post of duty. I received bullet wounds at other 
times, once in getting away from the enemy at Libby prison 
by escaping between two guards, they fired a shot that en- 
tered the calf of my leg which I'll carry to the day of my 
death. I was discharged the 16th day of December, 1862, 
on account of physical disability, and laid in the hospital 
at Annapolis Junction for three months from chronic diffi- 
culties caused from exposure in camp and field. 

I came back to my ''father's house" where kind friends 
cared for me most tenderly and I improved quite rapidly. 
In the Spring I went to farming on my father's farm (my 
father and mother had moved to town some four miles 
away). I found it quite lonesome, living alone and I sought 
a companion to whom I was married on January 10, 1864, a 
Miss LaDelle Cushman, who has been a devoted wife and 
mother of four sons and one daughter. 

I came to York county, Nebraska, March, 1870, locating- 
on a homestead on Sec. 22, Town 10, Range 2. I spent a few 
days looking aound and went into Iowa, where I superin- 
tended the building of my uncle's house. After an absence 
of two months I went back to York State and spent the sum- 
mer settling up business and getting ready, to go to my 
western home. I left there the last of August, leaving iny 
wife and two sons to come later. My wife was convalescing 
from a severe attack of spinal fever. At Lincoln, Nebraska, 
I was given a chance to work for the B. & M. R. R. Co., in the 
bridge and construction gang, from Crete to Kearney; I was 
with them until we reached the end of the line to Kearney, I 
then came to York and went to work, superintending car- 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 105 

peuter work. I helped to build the first frame building in 
York. I put up some forty frame buildings in York, and 
several school houses in York county. I tried farming on 
my homestead by hiring the breaking done at four or five 
dollars an acre, I also put up a frame building 12x20 for a 
house on my farm and went back to York State for my fam- 
ily, July 26, 1872, returning the last of the month. 

The next great event was the "April Storm." The day 
of the 12th of April had been a lovely day, but as night came 
on a huge black bank of clouds came up from the northwest, 
bringing a thunder storm and then growing cold as the north 
wind came, turning the rain to snow and beating against the 
windows, and blowing the snow into every crack and crevice. 
For three days we were without fresh water, as we had no 
well and it was unsafe to go to the neighbors, we melted 
snow and kept as warm as we could, burning corn on the ear 
and wrapping up in outer garments; no meat in the house 
for three days but the good Lord provided on the third day, 
in the afternoon the sun came out and looking out the south 
window on a pile of corn was a prairie chicken getting some- 
thing to eat. The chicken was prepared and we enjoyed the 
feast. 

We helped to establish a Sunday School in our district 
school house and had a good attendance of some seventy-five 
persons. We also had preaching service during the sum- 
mer by Rev. Broadwell, a IMethodist preacher and home- 
steader living some four miles west of us. Then the days 
of grasshoppers in 1873-4. The sun darkened at noonday 
by the insects; at feeding times how the idolized gardens 
suffered, even eating into the onion bulbs, stripping trees, 
bushes and cornfields till nothing remained but bare stalks 
The prospect was not very promising. One morning we ob- 
served immense fiocks of birds which proved to be swallows; 
they seemed to be feeding upon the grasshoppers. Another 
morning after a heavy thunder storm the ground was cov- 
ered with tiny frogs, walking along over them they would 
crunch and sound like breaking eggshells; never since have 
we witnessed the like. 

The early days of pioneer life was fraught with trials 
and disappointments. When everything seemed to point 



106 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

towards prosperity, something would take place to discour- 
age and darken our prospects and we come down to the 
years of helplessness with the satisfaction that we did the 
best we could within our environments, and now, I bid you 
adieu. 

Montraville Robbins 

On the 2nd of September, 1871, we left the town of 
Lawrenceville, Illinois, for Nebraska, arriving in York coun- 
ty, on the 20th day of September; we made this trip in a 
covered wagon, and made the same trip in the same wagon 
and with tlh^ same team of horses from Lawrenceburg, In- 
diana, the y\ar before; our trip took us through Missouri 
about three hundred miles, which was not a very pleasant 
Journey as it was just after the war. Mrs. Robbins and I 
were alone several nights, I lay under the wagon with my 
rifle as we did not have a watch dog with us. The first thing 
I done in York county was to look up a piece of land and go 
to Lincoln and homestead it; there was no railroad in the 
county at that time nor was there in Fairmont, as we passed 
the construction party at Dorchester, there was no railroad 
in the county. After the Burlington got to Fairmont we did 
our trading there, but before that time we went to Mill with 
o.ur grain to Lincoln, then we had grist mills at Milford, later 
at Beaver (-rossing, then one at Red Lion, and a few years 
later the town of York began to loom up. Doc Converse began 
the building of the Union Pacific R. R. as a competing line 
of the Burlington, no corruption there you see. At that time 
all the settlers in the county were along Blue River, there 
were no houses on the high prairie. I did not wait to buy 
lumber for I had nothing much to buy with; I looked around 
for the best location I could find and dug a hole in the bank 
a kind of combination, part dugout with a front made out 
of nice prairie sod covered with brush and soil, all in one 
room, there was no parlor, but we left a place on the side 
so we could build a ])arlor at a more convenient season. 
That winter we did not live sumptuously — no meat, butter 
or milk, barley coffee; the next Spring I shot deer, also an 
antelope, then we had some meat the next fall when I got a 
dressed hog at Beaver Crossing, it was away in the night 
before I got home and down about Blue Vale a pack of 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 107 

wolves came after me and I had to fight them off until I 
got up west of McFadden, they were on both sides of the 
wagon trying to jump in, I had no gun but they finally left 
me. 

Our next experience was the ''Easter Storm" on the 
12th day of April, 1873; a good many of the present settlers 
will remember this storm in our dugout; we were covered 
over for three days and nights with a light burning all the 
time and. we could hardly tell whether it was day or night. 
There were times when it tried men's souls and temper, but 
we were in a good humor, if 1 do say it myself, and done the 
best we could under the circumstances. I should have said 
that the fall before this I went away down on the Blue and 
got five bushels of potatoes and a half dozen of chickens 
and expected to have eggs for sale the next summer. I bur- 
ied the potatoes and made a nice hen house in the side of the 
l)ank for the chickens, in the meantime the potatoes all 
froze and the coyotes came in and just before daylight one 
morning and cleaned u]) all the chickens, so with the snow 
storm, grasshoppers, the loss of the potatoes and poultry 
and l)ut very few neighbors things looked rather discourag- 
ing, although we had neighbors that lived within one-half 
mile of us, Mr. and Mrs. George Brown, but they were in the 
side of another bank and we did not know they were living 
there, but we were young then and courageous, and little 
things like that didn't bother us. I go a well auger and 
made wells, I was gone from home a week at a time, during 
this time Mrs. Eobl)ins would be living alone in the dugout 
with wolves and stray Indians about. Finally we got a 
sewing machine and several times Mrs. Robbins had to give 
the Indians demonstrations on this sewing machine. There 
were no roads then on sections lines, and I can remember 
when we were coming to York we would take the nearest 
way possible. At first York consisted of a little frame 
house and one sod, but now as I stand on Hill Side and 
look over the city it is surely wonderful to see what a 
splendid city with its fine buildings and shade trees 
all built up where forty years ago there was nothing 
but the raw prairie, but with all our hardships 
in our pioneer days that we have lived through 
them without having to go back to wife's folks and we feel 



108 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

fully repaid in staying by York county and sometimes I 
think probably we ought to be more thankful for what we 
have and for our health and friends. 



Mr. Chistian Haloch 

Father and mother and we six children drove from 
Illinois with our old horses, took a homestead June 15, 1866 
We first pitched our tent on the Blue River and went to work 
biulding a dugout, and to get ready for the winter, we had 
hard winters and lots of snow. This is what made it hard 
for us, the snow was so deep that a team could not get 
through, we had to go to Lincoln to get anything at all and 
no money to get anything with. It was too late to raise any- 
thing when we came and there wasn't anything in the line 
of work to be done, so we had to stay for we couldn't get 
away. Never will I forget the time when we didn't have 
enough to eat and many times I heard mother say "I don't 
know where the next meal will come from." For three 
weeks we lived on homemade hominy, in the making of 
which we took the wood ashes to hull the corn and we did- 
n't even have salt to x^our over it; for clothes, we had no 
shoes, mother made us rag shoes which we six children all 
wore. . I remember the first pair of shoes I had after we 
came west to Nebraska. We saw buifalo, deer anteloi)e 
and wild turkeys, but hadn't anything to shoot them with. 
There were lots of Indians here then and we were afraid of 
them at first, they would beg the last mouthful we had and 
we would give tliem some of what we had for the reason 
that we were afraid of them and thought they would kill 
us, that was all we worried about as we had been told that 
they would kill us if we didn't give them something to eat. 

We could catch fish any time we could go to the river 
and cut a hole in the ice and put*a jnece of red calico on the 
hook and the moment it was in the water we would have a 
fish bite; we didn't have anything to fry them in so Mother 
used to boil them, but we got so sick of boiled fish that we 
children could hardly look at them. Thank you, no more 
boiled fish in mine, I can smell them yet and that is forty 
years ago. I wasn't very old those days but I can remember 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 109 



tilings better that liappeiied then, than I can remember 
tilings now . 

But those times were the hajipiest times in our lives, 
every body was so good and sociable and that is more than 
can be said of the ]ieople of today, one would divide with the 
other. 

Nathan Johnson 

Mr. Nathan Johnson was born Nov. 15, 1840, in Coven- 
enty, Rhode Island, and when four years of age he with his 
parents moved to West Batavia, New York. Here he grew 
to manhood, and at the tirst of the war he answered the 
call of his country, enlisting August 21, 1861 in Company 
D. 49th Infantry. He was promoted to Sergeant of Captain, 
Geo, H. Selkirk's Co. Here he served in the Potomac army 
and was wounded May 4, 1863 at the Battle of Frederick- 
burg, receiving a bullet which he carried to his grave. 

On May 5, 1864, he was taken a prisoner during the 
Battle of the Wilderness; he spent nine weary months in the 
Southern prison of Florence and Andersonville, and was re- 
leased February 28, 1865, at Wilkington, North Carolina. 

He received his honorable discharge May 22, 1865, at 
Rochester, New York. At the close of the war he went to 
Batavia, Iowa. Here he was united in marriage on Novem- 
ber 1, 1868, to Miss Eleanor J. Graham. They removed from 
Iowa to Nebraska in March, 1872. He homesteaded one 
hundred and sixty acres of land three miles South of the 
City of York. The walls of their house were sod with two 
small windows, dirt roof and the ground for a floor. Five 
children were born to this union, two dying in infancy. The 
surviving ones are Mrs. Ruth Wright of Chicago, 111.; 
Charles E. and Mrs. Gertrude E. Currah of York. Mr. John- 
son and wife were in the great Easter storm of 1873, which 
commenced April 16, and lasted three days. It was the 
worst storm that ever occurred in the history of the state. 

The few settlers with their sod houses and straw barns 
were not prepared for such a storm, it was of such fury that 
horses, cattle and people that were out in it perished, Mr. 
Johnson, to save their cow took it down cellar which was out 



110 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

side of their house. After the great Easter storm came the 
grasshopper pest, and many other privations that were en- 
dured by the early settlers. 

One great drawback in those days was that no railroads 
were in the country and all freight for York had to be hauled 
from Fairmont. The fuel that was burned was hauled from 
the Blue river and Beaver creek. Some corn, cron stalks 
and hay were burned for fuel. 

> Nathan Johnson was honored with public office, being 
elected to the legislature from 1893 to 1895 and also was 
county treasurer from 1896 to 1900. He filled both of these 
offices with great fidelity and honor to himself and his 
friends. 

In 1909 his health began to fail and thinking that a 
change in climate might be beneficial he and his wife left 
York on December 9, for Kessmine, Florida. For a time it 
seemed that his health was improving but on the 17th day 
of January he felt the fatal stroke coming while he was out 
walking with his wife. They returned to their temporary 
home and two hours later he died. 

His widow returned to York with his body, where it was 
interred in Greenwood cemetery. So lived and passed away 
this man of a quiet example, of few words, of a kind and 
kingly spirit, a brave comrade, a firm friend, an honest offi- 
cial and an obliging neighbor; such men as Nathan Johnson 
have made York county one of the best governed counties 
of the state. 

Mrs, Johnson, with her son Charles lives on the old 
homestead which has been her home for over forty years. 

Speech Delivered by Mrs, George Bowers At the Old Settlers 

Picnic. 

^'We were living at Fairbury, 111,, when we made up 
our minds to go West. We joined a colony that was locat- 
ing homesteads at Gibbon, Buffalo county. We packed our 
goods and shipped them to Gibbon, having a promise of re- 
duced freight, George's brother Amos, came down from 
Joliet and thev started with their teams to drive through. 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA ^^^ 



Geovo-e tliouglit he would let me stay about six months or un- 
til he sot some kind of a house for me and the baby. When 
they crossed the Missouri River they fell in with eight more 
okrsoldiers coming after homestead lands, among them were 
,l()lin Lett, Wm. Cross, Kobert Lytle and Art Drauclier. Ihey 
went to the land office in Lincoln and were told that there 
was no government land in York county, so they thought 
they would have to strike for Filhnore county. In the 
meantime George and Amos had given up all thoughts ot 
Gibbon, deciding that it was too far west and the ten old 
soldiers were going to locate near each other. When they 
reached Beaver Crossing they met Zachariah Heath, who 
had been here and taken a homestead and was on his way 
back looking for work. Tie told them that there was plenty 
of government land in York county and told them which 
way to go to find Aikins Mills post office and that Mr Aikins 
would locate them. When they reached Aikms they lett 
their lumber wagons and drove on to Hamilton county to 
look around, where they found Mr. Spafford trymg to bore 
a well He had got down eighty feet and broke the auger. 
They were disgusted with the country and the whole bunch 
and'thev came back and located within a few miles of each 
other with Aikin Mills as their post office. They then piled 
up some sod to hold their claims till they could go to Lmco n 
and file on them. Next they broke out an acre m the north- 
west corner of our claim and while doing so dropped a few 
potatoes in the furrow and plowed them under and planted 
a little corn the same way. They broke a fire guard next 
to the road then broke on the line between George's land 
and his brother's (n. hf sec. 8-10-3.) Then they went up one 
side and down the other breaking as much on one claim as 
on the other, about ten acres. They had been here about six 
weeks when George wrote for me to come at once or he would 
not stay. He had our goods shipped back to Columbus from 
Gibbon and the railroad was so put out because he did not 
locate at Gibbon that they charged double rates for shipping 
them back and he did not have money enough to pay the 
freight so he broke out ten acres of land for Dr. Greer, who 
had filed on the southeast quarter of the same section our 
land was on, and thus secured enough money to pay the 
freight. George had taken the cook stove, two chairs, a 
mattress besides some boxes of canned goods, some potatoes. 



112 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

and seed corn when he drove through. There was a water 
hole at the back of our homestead in a draw where George 
set up the stove. He stood two large boxes on end a few 
feet apart, laid some poles across and then covered them 
with a quilt to set the table under, which, by the way was 
another box, staked the wagon cover over it and we slept 
in it. We lived that way about a week and then they all 
worked together and l^uilt a sod building for a stable and we 
lived in it all summer. As I was the first' woman to come 
thev built ours first, then thev put up sod houses for nearlv 
all.^ 

By that time they had learned more about breaking the 
sod, cutting and hauling it, when it was the toughest to 
handle, etc. Then in the fall they built a better house for 
our home. It had windows and doors and a floor in half of 
it. I put down a rag carpet which I brought with me. We 
put a lot of straw on the ground and put my carpet in the 
half that had no floor, but before our house was finished, 
George, with others, went out west to kill buffalo for meat. 
My second son was just one week old and I was still living in 
the stable with blankets for doors and windows. When 
George had been gone about a week it began to rain and then 
it turned into snow and we had a regular Nebraska blizzard. 
The door was in the west and was drifted full so I had to 
crawl out the window and drag in poles and chop them in the 
house to keep from freezing. I stayed in bed as long and 
as much as I could with my two boys (the oldest was two 
years). When the storm was over Mr. Eberhart sent his 
oldest son to see how I had stood the racket with instruc- 
tions for me to come there till George got home, so I took 
the two boys, one on each arm, and waded through the snow 
one-half mile while the Eberhart boy carried a little grip. 
I stayed there several days. When George returned he had 
plenty of buffalo meat and we got through the winter very 
well. 

George hauled goods from Oolumlpus for Aikins, who 
in the meantime had started a little store on Lincoln creek 
(Aikins Mills). The first summer we had no cow, no chick- 
ens, no pigs, no milk, no eggs, no butter. In the fall our 
brother-in-law, 0. D. Keeler, came out and took a homestead. 
He brought a box as large as he could get checked as bag- 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 113 

gage and my folks sent nie a few tilings to eat, among which 
was some eggs. We took thirteen to Mrs. Aikins and got 
them to set them for us and then gave her a dollar for the hen 
She hatched seven chicks and we brought her home and the 
second night something caught the hen. I then had to bring 
them in the house every night for a while, until George tixed 
a sod coop for them. While George was putting up hay 
(by the way he broke two acres of prairie for Lem Gandy 
to pay for a scythe to cut his hay and had to cut it all that 
way). I crawled on my hands and knees and lifted the sod 
and picked up the potatoes of which we had three grain 
sacks full, but when the blizzard came our potatoes froze 
and so did my chickens. We only had flour enough the first 
year to make gravy and we lived on corn bread. Poor stuff, 
too. With no milk or lard, not enough lard to even grease 
the pan. Afte*' moving into our sod house I went down to 
the northwest corner w^here our little patch of breaking was, 
took an old hatchet and chopped holes in the sod and plant- 
ed some cucumbers, beans and melons. There were quite a 
number of Indians around begging, so when my garden was 
ready for use I would get my baby asleep, put him on the bed 
and run for dear life to pick a few beans or cucumbers for 
fear the Indians would steal him while I was gone. We 
gathered wild plums on the creek and as we had no sugar 
we cooked them with our musk melons into a jam — the melon 
making the sweetening. In the spring when Keeler came 
out he chartered a car to Columbus and father sent me *a 
cow, pig and a dozen chickens and we started in with bright 
ho])es. We sowed wheat on the breaking and oats on the 
fire guard, and left a little for garden and everything began 
to grow and look nice when about the 20th of June there 
came a hail storm and everything was cut to the ground. 
We felt pretty blue. George hitched up his team and went 
to Beaver Crossing where he broke four acres and took corn 
for i^ay. He brought home with him a kitten, the first cat 
I had seen in Nebraska. After the hail I re]:>lanted my gar- 
den and had some late cucumbers and beans and the corn 
came out and made a few small ears. That fall my folks 
sent me a barrel of things, navy beans, dried apples, sweet 
corn and $2.00 worth of sugar. All this time the settlers 
hauled all their fuel from the Platte river. It took two days 
to make the trip. Those who came ahead of us had taken all 



114 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

the creek claims with any timber. Sometimes George could 
wade around in tlie water on the R. R. land, every other 
section was R. R. land, and get a little drift wood. 

From my dozen cliickens I raised about fifty more so I 
had about tliirty hens to start in with the next year. George 
got little ash poles and made, some frames for chairs like 
the old-fashioned s])lint bottom and I sewed grain sacks on 
them for seats. We had no bedstead for two years, instead 
we had stakes drove in the ground and poles laid on them 
and the fleas nearly ate us. 

William Escridge McCloud 

William Escridge McCloud, son of William Escridge 
McCloud and Ann Sears McC^loud, was bor.n Jan. 6, 1872, 
at Moravia, Appanoose County, Iowa. On the maternal 
side he is of English descent, and on the paternal side he 
is of Scotch-Irish descent. His grandparents on both 
sides were born in Virginia. His parents were married in 
Iowa and lived at Moravia until the fall of 1877 when they 
sought a home in Nebraska, moving permanently to York 
County in the Spring of 1878. His father was a farmer and 
stock raiser. 

W. E. McCloud secured his education in the schools of 
the county which was supplemented with a Business Course 
at Omaha. After returning from school he engaged in the 
farming and stock-raising business with his father. He 
was married December 24, 1896 to Miss Estella Evans of 
Waco, Nebraska, and took full charge of the farm of 320 
acres. There was born to them one son who died in infancy 

In January, 1899 he purchased a Meat Market at Hol- 
drege, Nebraska, in ]:)artnership with his brother, C. A. Mc- 
Cloud. Phelps County not seeming as good to him as York 
County he sold his interests in Holdrege, and he returned to 
York County in July, 1900, and resided at Bradshaw, Ne- 
braska, where he bought grain and had charge of the eleva- 
tor belonging to his brother, C. A. McCloud. In October, 
1905, the elevator having been sold he enterod the First 
National Bank of Bradshaw as bookkeeper. He was pro- 
moted and in February, 1906, took charge of the Bank of 




(\ A. .M<('I>()1 I) 

York ("oiinty Pioneer. President First National Bank. 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 115 

Lushton as Cashier. In October, 1906, lie gave up this 
position and came to York where he entered the Farmers 
National Bank of York as bookkeeper. This bank had been 
organized in August, 1906 with C. A. McCloud as President. 
He was promoted and held the position of Assistant Cashier 
of the Bank at the time of his election to the office of County 
Treasurer of York County, November, 1909. 

He took hold of the work in this otfice with his usual 
energy and attention to detail and was able to make a good 
record. This was attested to when asking for re-election 
he received the flattering majority of 1285 votes. 

The contrast in the development of the County at the 
present time with its evidences of wealth and prosperity 
is great when compared to the level treeless prairies of an 
early day. When going visiting or to market it was possible 
to start out in the general direction of the place desired to 
be reached. 

York County is a most desirable place in which to live. 
Ezekiel Evans 

Ezekiel Evans, the son of Ezekiel and Mary Jermain 
Evans, was born in "Baltimore Hundred," Sussex County, 
Delaware, February 28, 1829. He lived in the first tier of 
houses near the Atlantic Ocean for a number of years. 
He "followed the sea" but desiring to improve conditions 
he left for the west at 26 years of age and settled in Illinois. 

He was married to Miss Martha Jane Williams, Septm- 
ber 29, 1857, and lived near Warsaw, Hancock County, 
Illinois, until again the western fever took possession of 
him and he with his wife and family now consisting of six 
sons departed for the west and located in York County. 

AVhen he came to the county to homestead he came on 
tlie trjiin as far as Lincoln, then by stage as far as Seward, 
when it was necessai-y to come the rest of the distance on 
foot. He homesteaded the Northeast quarter of Section 18, 
Town 11, Range 1 west, in April, 1872, and brouglit his fam- 
ily in the fall of the same year coming overland in a '*i)rairie 
schooner." As he was a minister of the gospel as well as a 



116 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

farmer he preached from house to '^soddy" and dugout, 
swam streams and slept on the broad prairies, while his 
colts ate the grass growing so plentifully. As the settlers 
at that time seemed so poor, and he so "rich in the faith 
that God would care for him" could not ask for the "need- 
ful" but obeyed his God with trusting faith. With his 
trusty fowling piece he killed the meat for his family, in- 
creased to ten by the addition of four daughters in Nebraska. 
Geese, duck, (|uail, rabbit, and chickens were plentiful and 
and they who cared to hunt could have them for the killing 
of them. 

He was school director in his frontier days in Illinois, 
and was also now school director in his new home, and built 
the first school house in his district, Waco township. 

With the help of his sons he farmed four hundred acres 
of land in addition to preaching the gospel. They said it did 
not rain in Nebraska but that first Lord's Day, after he 
preached the first gospel sermon in York, it did rain until 
the water was several inches deep over the ground where 
our court house now stands. The Lord helped him to Iniiid 
up six Churches of Christ in York County. 

When on his first trip to see the country, he picked up 
an Indian arrow head, near where the court house now 
stands. He thought "if the Indian can live here, the white 
man can." This thought has proven to be true as present 
prosperity shows. 

When he looks back to the Anderson-Ford wedding he 
thinks the roast turkey tasted as good in that nice dugout as 
now in the most modern dwelling. At that time when hun- 
gry it was easy to get together a few dry sticks, toast a quail, 
some corn or some rye bread. Then after he had a nap the 
black horse Jim would neigh and be ready to take his master 
on to the next appointment. 

He later moved to Waco, then in 1901, went back to his 
childhood home with his wife, leaving the children scattered 
over the west. After six years Nebraska appealed to him as 
of old and at the earnest wish of his friends and loved ones, 
he returned to York in 1907 and there is settled in his own 
home. He has found that York County is the garden spot 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 117 

of God's creation, and that deep and abundant faith in his 
Heavenly Father has increased till it is his greatest com- 
fort in his later days and he hopes to rneet his friends where 
partings are no more. 

J. W. Gilmore 

Glimpses of Other Days 

The people who came to Nebraska in the years of '65 
and ^66 and later, can look back and see that since that time 
the hand of evolution has been busy changing the vast 
I^rairies that were at one time considered part of the Great 
American desert to a fertile farming country and homes for 
thousands. The prairies in those days had a different 'ap- 
pearance and one looking over them could see as far as the 
vision of the eye could reach. The monotony was only 
broken sometimes by a herd of deer or antelope or elk and 
sometimes buffalo. The grass on the prairie at that time 
was short and in bunches and where now plenty of hay can 
be made, then it took a hundred acres to make a ton. The 
the streams were visited by friendly bands of Indians trap- 
ping the beaver and other game which was to be found in 
abundance. The first Indians the writer ever saw were 
camped in a grove where now the K. P. park is located and 
there were about one hundred in the band. An Indian 
squaw came to our home; she could talk English very plain- 
ly and told us where they camped farther ui) the river. The 
band had lost a child which>was never found. They thought 
it had fallen in the river and gotten under the ice. 

The Ponies and Omaha Indians always had their annual 
buffalo hunt in the latter part of the summer. They formed 
an alliance and hunted together so they would be strong 
enough to fix the Sioux. Their custom was to go west and 
get around the buffalo and draw them east from the Sioux. 
This would cause trouble and sometimes there would be 
fighting. Sometimes the buffalo would be driven as far east 
as York county and that is the reason some of the first set- 
tlers here saw the Indians hunting buffalo on these prairies. 

The first buffalo I ever saw was in 1868 when I was but 
a boy, I got on my pony to visit friends near whej'e the Fil- 



118 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

more mill now stands; and when I had gone as far west as 
the present location of the town of McCool, I saw on the 
opposite side of the river what I thought to be black cattle, 
but later learned were buffalo. There were thousands of 
them and as they ran the vibrations of their hoofs sounded 
like distant thunder. 

There is one other thing that the early settler can never 
forget and that is the sod house. It was a strong factor in 
helping to settle this country and if it had not been for the 
sod house it would have been almost impossible for some of 
the homesteaders to have lived on their land. The settlers 
along the streams were anxious to see the prairies settled 
and when they saw a new black spot on the prairie, they 
knew there was another homesteader. Yes the sod house 
was the dwelling, the barn, the church, the school house and 
dance hall. I have often thought Nebraska should build a 
monument in honor of the sod house. 

Elias Gilmore 

Interesting Eeminiscences of Time "When Redskins Were 
Many and White Men Few 

Early Settlers 

In 1865 Elias Gilmore, in company with his eldest son, 
Jacob Rush Gilmore and Wm. Taylor, left Livingston 
county, Illinois, for Nebraska, traveling overland with team 
and wagon. They were delayed at Sidney, Iowa, for some 
weeks, while waiting for the ice on the Missouri river to be- 
come sufficiently stiong to drive over, conse(juently did not 
arrive in York county until the latter part of December. 
Leaving the old freight road at the Fouse ranch they follow- 
ed a dim wagon track westward along the Blue, finding John 
Anderson with his family already located near the eastern 
line of the country. Coming west they ate Christmas dinner 
in Cam]:> on section 6, range 1, just north of the river from 
where the K. P. camp is now located. After locating their 
land they returned to Nebraska City, homesteading the same 
January 1st, 1866, then once again driving across the country 
to the new homes, began the work of improving them. The 
nearest postoffice was Camden, twenty-five miles away. 




KLIAS (;ili.M()HK 

Located in York County in 1865. Built first frame 
dwelling in York County. 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 119 



They spent the winter in a small dugout near the river, sur- 
rounded by Indians; Mrs. Taylor remaining there alone at 
one time while J. R. Gilmore made the trip to Nebraska City 
from wliieh place Elias Gilmore returned to Illinois. The 
winter proved to be very fine until about the fourteenth of 
February, when they were visited by a regular blizzard, the 
snow completely covering both house and barn. In April, 
J. R. Gilmore, wife and little daughter, Ella- now Mrs. S. 
J. Dutton, of Davis Creek, Cal., arrived and to them was born 
June 3, 1866, their second eldest daughter, Lily M., now Mrs. 
J. E. Hunt, of Bayard, Nebraska. Elias Gilmore had ship- 
])ed to Nebraska City, meat, flour and such farming imple- 
ments as were needed in the new country. During the sum- 
mer of 1866 David Bussard, A. J. Gilmore, Cris Hollock, 
A. Deams, Fernando McFadden and Jerry Stanton came 
from Illinois and located along the river, Jerry Stanton hav- 
ing homesteaded the land upon which McCool is now located. 

David Bussard was one of the first County Commission- 
ers and A. J. Gilmore was for some years blacksmith for 
for the entire county. November 3, 1866, Elias Gilmore with 
his family arrived, having brought fourteen head of cattle 
and six head of horses. Afterwards he bought two small 
hogs from a ranchman on Salt Creek southeast of the present 
city of Lincoln. This was the beginning of a stock industry 
that has yielded an abundant harvest. The winter of '66-7 
was a very severe one with an immense fall of snow. Food 
had to be hauled from Nebraska City. Prairie fires had des- 
troyed the already limited supply of hay. Those who re- 
mained on their farms during the winter had a hard time but 
crops were exceedingly good the following year, thus giv- 
ing encouragement to the somewhat discouraged ones. 

A Pioneer Home 

A description of the dugout in which the Gilmore fam- 
ily lived a few years will not be amiss, as it is only from the 
pages of history that this kind of a house will be known to 
this and coming generations. Dug into a sidehill near the 
river with a front built of logs, the bank growing deeper 
towards the back until it was about seven feet. Upon this a 
few more logs were placed. The floor was made of hewn 



120 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

slabs somewhat smoothed, known as puncheons. The roof 
was covered with the same over which a few inches of dirt 
was thrown. A huge fire-place in the end had a chimney 
built of sod plastered with mud. Rough boards overhead 
made a low sleeping room for the men. This house was 24 by 
10 feet in size and was indeed a home for many land seekers 
at that time. Sixty-nine found many settling along the 
river and the prairie lands were also being taken. The 
timber was used for fuel and sometimes corn stalks were 
utilized for the same purpose. This was a very wet sum- 
mer and as the dirt roof failed to keep out the rain a new 
house became necessary. Mr. Gilmore had raised an abun- 
dant crop of both barley and buckwheat. The latter was 
first taken to the Camden mills, converted into flour, then 
hauled to Nebraska City and sold for eleven dollars per 
hundred. The barley also taken to Nebraska City brought 
one dollar and seventy-five cents per bushel. The wagons 
were then loaded with lumber for the new house, this being, 
we think, the first frame house in the county. Native trees 
taken to Milford and sawed into rough lumber were used 
for the framework. The price lumber brought in Nebraska 
City cost there $90 per thousand feet. The building consist- 
ed of an upright i)art 24 by 14 with a 16 foot ell and is yet in 
fair condition on the farm now owned by Boss Gilmore. 

Shingles for the school house in district No. 1, were 
brought from Nebraska City and the first school opened 
in April, 1870 with Lizzie Lowery as teacher. This district 
was in later years annexed to district No. 7 and thus lost 
its identy to some extent. During the summer of 1868 a 
posoffice was located at McFadden and a year later the Old 
Blue Valley postoffice opened with J. R. Gilmore as post- 
master. Mr. Gilmore also ran a general store until 1873, 
when he sold out to the firm of Creech & Armstrong, who 
built the old storehouse yet standing, in 1874, having then 
to haul lumber from Lincoln only. 

Social Life *■ 

Social and religious life was not neglected in those days. 
The young people from the Fouse ranch to Mr. Waddel's 
ranch in Hamilton county were well known to each other 
and frequently met to enjoy a country dance with a zeal 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 121 

unknown today. Perry Caldwell, a United Brethren 
preacher, living on a homestead in Saline county rode horse- 
back to his appointments and iii 1868 organized a class in 
the home of David Bussard. This class has had an iininter^ 
rnpted history and yet meets in Bethel church which was 
built in 1870. R. S. Manney, Ezekiel Evans and Elder Kilroe 
organized the Christian church in a school house until 1883 
when the present church house was built. 

J. W. Rush, whom we think is now the oldest homstead- 
er living in York county, drove through from Illinois in 
1872, locating on section 12, range 1. Mr. Rush is a veteran 
of the civil war and has lately celebrated his ninetieth birth- 
day. 

A Mysterious Guest 

Hospitality was everywhere in evidence in the days 
of which. we write. Doors were never locked; white men and 
Indians could alike walk in unannounced, the latter often 
frightening women and children very much. In the early 
seventies a man riding a beautiful thoroughbred horse 
stopped at Elias Gilmore's and asked for entertainment 
over night, which was, of course, granted. He was a well 
dressed man, keen and alert, differing in many ways from 
the travelers of that time. It was noticed that his right 
hand was usually held under the left side of his coat and 
though he was a good talker and well informed on current 
events he was reticent regarding himself. 

The sleeping apartment in the house consisted of one 
large room for the men, containing several beds. The late 
S. N. C^reech and other boarders occupied beds in this room 
and were startled when the stranger upon retiring unbuck- 
led a belt containing several revolvers, one of which he 
calmly placed under his pillow and laid the belt on the table 
near his bed. The unarmed men in the room made no re- 
marks, but i^jissed a sleepless night. The stranger was up 
early and after paying liberally for his entertainment, rode 
swiftly away. Mr. Gilmore remarked, ''Boys, there's some- 
thing wrong with that man," a fact which became evident 
when they learned later that they had entertained the noted 
Jesse James. 



122 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

Fish and game were abundant in the early days, many 
deer being killed during the winter of 'G6-7 and also during 
'68 . After that they became scarcer and only a glimpse 
of antelope could be seen, Elias Gilmore brought to Ne- 
braska what was perhaps one of the largest breaking plows 
in the state, being a 2i)-incli lay. To this plow he drove from 
four to six yoke of oxen with one or more drivers. Mr. 
Gilmore broke prairie from near Camden, Neb., west for 
many miles, for which he got from three to five dollars per 
acre. The first threshing outfit that came into York county 
was owned by M. Brown of Middle Creek, Neb. He bought 
the machine in Nebraska City and threshed along the west- 
ward road as far as Hamilton county. 

Mary A. Gilmore 

In the 8i)ring of 1866, A. J. Gilmore, David Bussard, 
Wm. Whitaker and Wm. 0. Bussard, came to Nebraska 
in search of land; they came in covered wagons. After 
hunting and finding land that suited them they had 
to return to Nebraska City to homestead said land; 
then the fall following Wm. O. Bussard, and Wm. 
Whitaker returned east for their families travel- 
ing in the same covered wagons. David Bussard re- 
maining on his homestead but in the meantime he had pur- 
chased a very good chance of one Mr. Hall, which consisted 
of a very good two-room log house, a lot of potatoes and a 
large sorghum ]:)atch, which sorghum was later made into 
molasses furnishing sweetening for all purposes. With 
butfalo, elk, venison, antelope and prairie chickens, without 
number, sorghum cake made a very good dessert. 

David Bussard and A. J. Gilmore located along the 
Blue river in York County, Whitaker and William O. Bus- 
sard going to Fillmore. For a short time after settling, A. 
J. Gilmore had his blacksmith shop on the old freight road 
near Fouse's ranch and the next spring took his wife and 
little daughter, now Mrs. W. T. Decious of York, and lived 
in a covered wagon on his claim until he broke prairie and 
planted sod corn, after which he built his house, which was 
a story and half high, dug in the bank on three sides, built 
up in front of nicely hewed logs 16x18 with dirt floor and 
roof, but later on there came a portable sawmill near and 




REV. C. S. HARRISON 

Pioneer preacher and York's successful florist and 
grower of ornamental trees and shrubery. 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 123 

lie had native lumber sawed for upper and lower floors after 
which the house was known as the ''Astor" house on ac- 
count of its palatial appearance; it also being the stopping 
place of land seekers and ])eople coming from a great dis- 
tance to get their smith-work done. 

Indians were very plentiful, I remember on one occasion, 
Mr. Gilmore having gone to mill at Milford, which trip 
required three days, his wife and baby being alone there 
during his absence there came to the house an uncommonly 
large and ugly Indian, demanding something to eat, saying; 
"You no give me eat, me shoot," taking his gun in his 
hands and looking very savage. Trembling in every limb, 
I quickly fllled a jilate with eatables handing it to him, after 
eating he left saying, "you heap good squaw, good-bye." 

Now I will tell you about religious matters: We were 
without religious meetings until two horsemen rode up to 
David Bussard's door, which proved to be two preachers, 
W. T. Caldwell and E. J. Lamb of the United Brethren 
church. That evening Lamb preached in Bussard's house 
and the next night Caldwell preached in A. J. Gilmore 's 
house, after which we had preaching every four weeks. The 
first class was organized in David Bussard's house by Cald- 
well. To show you liow the people enjoyed meeting I w^ill 
relate a little incident which is as follows: Caldwell had 
left an appointment for preaching at Elias Gilmore 's, when 
the Sunday came, the Blue river was overflowing its banks 
but A. J. Gilmore and family wanted to go to church so he 
tied the wagon bed on, put the spring seat on helped his wife 
up gave the little girl to her mother and hitched the oxen to 
the wagon, drove to the river and plunged in, the oxen swim- 
ming up stream. The entire congregation coming to the 
river to see them come over and did the same when they re- 
turned home. 

C. S. Harrison 

Was born in the State of New York, Nov. 24, 1832. In 
'44 he moved with his parents to Illinois. His father was 
sick when they landed in Chicago, and he had to hunt the 
dirty village of Chicago over for a peek of potatoes. In 
1857 he commenced preaching on the frontiers of Minneso- 



124 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

ta. For four years lie had to endure tlie privations of a new 
countr}^ Sometimes he was nearly frozen. He often was 
obliged to ford swollen streams, and once his horse sank 
with him three times in a swollen river. Having had some 
success in church work he was called by Land Commissioner 
Geo. S. Harris to take a colony into York in 1871. It was 
called the May Flower Colony. He induced several hun- 
dred people to come to York County. He i^reached the 
first sermon in York in an unfinished store building. There 
was an audience of 14. The country was new and the j^eople 
very poor — most of them living in sod houses. In the spring 
of '72 the Congregational church was organized through his 
l^ersistent efforts. York grew rapidly though oft' the line 
of the K. R. For seven years the people had to haul lumber 
and goods from Fairmont. But handicapped as they were, 
and without a R. R. they outgrew every town on the B. & 
M. all the way from Crete to Hastings. The class of people 
who came to York shaped its future. They made and kept 
a clean town. A good academy building was put up, it arose 
as a strong hope out of the despair of the grasshopper days. 
Then came the great liquor war, when they threatened to 
kill Mr. Harrison who was the chairman of the executive 
committee which was very much alive. His life was often 
threatened and one day two men loaded up with liquor 
started out to kill him. But they were knocked lengthwise 
by Henry Seymore, one escaped and the other on complaint 
of Mr. Harrison lay three months in jail and found it did 
not pay to be a saloon liench man. The war was fought to a 
finish, and the people found that decency paid. As soon as 
it was known that saloons were to be kept out of York, trav- 
eling men and others moved in where their boys could be 
safe. There ^re but few manufacturers in York, people 
seemed to live on the reputation of the town and how the city 
grows — beating other towns which had a better start and a 
better location two to one. Mr. Harrison started a nursery 
in 1871 and '81 he went to Pueblo, and left it with his sons. 
And here let me say that these sons bearing and honoring 
his name have done more to help the city than any two men 
who have ever lived here. They keep an army of workmen 
and of agents. They spend most of their money where they 
make it and last summer put up a fine $10,000 building. 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 125 

AVhoii about 67 years old Mr; Harrison's health failed. 
His chureli nerves were worn out. He had been nearly 42 
years in active work in the ministry — had built 16 churches 
and received many hundreds on c<,onfession of faith — had 
helped found two academies and raised about $100,000 for 
church and educational work. He had a right to l)e tired, 
but he had been too busy to make money. When he might 
have been worth $100,000; he had saved in these long busy 
years not enough to build a comfortable home. So he start- 
ed an ornamental nursery on two of the weediest lots in the 
city. This grew to cover 28 lots. When after ten years he 
sold a half interest to H. S. King. Since 70 years of age he 
has published five works on Horticulture, and has another 
now nearly ready for the press. He has at great pains gath- 
ered the best things from Europe and America and now the 
C. S. Harrison Select Nursery has a reputation reaching 
from ocean to ocean, and Manitoba to the Gulf. He is still 
in active work and enjoys his glorious flowers which keep 
up a procession of beauty from Spring to the hard frosts 
of Auiuiiiii. 

At a ripe old age he is now waiting on the hither shore 
for the coming of the boatman to bring him to the other 
side. Most of the co-laborers of former days have already 
gone over, and at times he is lonely. But he lives among 
pleasant memories and in glad anticipations of reunions 
beyond. 

C. J. Carlson 

C. J. Carlson \vas born in Sweden, November 19, 1811. 
In the year 1871 he came to America, reaching Mt. Pleasant, 
Iowa, on August 7 of that year. Here he remained until 
Fobiuary, 1872 when he started to Nebraska, traveling by 
wagon. He took a homestead on section 34, township 11, 
range 3, where he lived for nearly thirty-five years. He was 
married to Miss Carrie Kaliff on March 19, 1877, who died 
in March, 1904. On May 14, 1905, he was married to Mrs. 
Lottie Burke. In September 1906 Mr. and Mrs. Carlson 
moved to York where they now live at 803 Academy avenue. 

^fr. (^arlson i)ass('d through the usual i)ioneer exper- 
iences and endured the same hardships as all early settlers, 



126 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 



but lie lias never regretted coming to the United States for 
he found much better opportunity for advancement in all 
ways than in the old country. 

Foster J. Parris 

Foster J. Parris was born a Vermont soldier. He en- 
listed at the age of 17, in Co. K, 14th Vermont Vol. In 1872 
he came to Nebraska, and liomesteaded on section 6, town- 
ship 12, range 2, west, and afterwards bought a quarter on 
Sec. 7 from the U. P. railroad Co. He stood at his post 
faithfully, through all the hardships of those early days, 
contending with blizzards, grasshoppers, drought and hail, 
and succeeded in improving his farm and making a cojii- 
fortable home for his family. In 1875 he was elected Jus- 
tice of the Peace and was instrumental in helping to distri- 
bute the aid that was sent to the needy at that time. In the 
spring of '75 Mrs. Parris taught in a room of her sod house, 
the first school that was held in Dist. No 59, and in the 
spring of '76 the first school that was held in the new school 
house in that District. In the spring of 1897 Mr. Parris ' 
sold his homestead and moved to York where he remained 
until his death May 30, 1905. 

WHEN THE GRASSHOPPERS CAME 
By Mrs. D. T. Moore 

One afternoon during the haiwest season of 1874, our 
family consisting of four members and two visitors, making 
six altogether, went from our home, in the valley of Lincoln 
Creek, to the home of Mr. Charles Keckley on the hill, where 
we were invited to partake of the hospitality of Mr. Keckley 
and his sister, the late Mrs. Bonar. We were feeling in 
just the right spirit for a good social time and a rest as our 
harvest Avas over and we were ready to hei]) our neiiilihois 
even to the extent of taking supper with them. While still 
lingering at the table, we noticed that it was growing darker 
in the west than the time of day would warrant. Fearful 
of a sudden storm wmcn often took us unawares, the men 
went to investigate, nothing indicated a storm, except the 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 127 



darkciiiiii;' of the western sky and tin ominons roaring wliiek 
was alarming. The men climbed to the roof of the house — 
<lid I say it was a sod house? — to farther investigate. And 
there there they came, by the millions, the undesirable new- 
coni'-rs: We learnei a day later that devastation lay behind 
tlieni. The harvest was especially good that year but har- 
vesters were few in number and even though a few had 
utilized Sunday to save their crops, many fields were still 
uncut — these the grasshoppers laid waste, then ate the grow- 
ing corn and the garden leaving nothing but tomatoes and 
tobacco behind them. But here they came, and as we saw 
them settle upon our neighbor's cornfields and gardens, 
our heart sank within us, for we knew our fate was the same. 
As we proceeded on our way home, much sadder than wlien 
we left a few hours before, we saw every stem of grass, 
every garden plant — our splendid garden which had been 
been our pride and source of supply all summer — and the 
cornfields and trees all covered black with the army of 
grasshoppei's, where .they had settled for the night and for 
so long as there was anything for them to eat. It was little 
use to try to save anything but a few trees in the front 
yard to which much care had been given and which if saved 
would be permanent, were chosen for the experiment, and no 
sooner were they well settled than a bucketful of cold well 
water, from the hands of the man of the house would dis- 
turb the repose of that particular bunch, and by persistent 
effort a few of our little shade trees were saved to grow an- 
other year. It was almost more than we could believe pos- 
sible, where everything had been growing and green was 
the prevailing hue, in a few hours to see here black stems 
and corn stalks, and those who lost their ripened grain were 
worse off. 

We do not like to dwell upon the hardships but the 
grasshopper year was one of those which tried men's souls 
and the courage of many deserted them, and rather than see 
those dei)endent upon them suffer they gave u}) and went 
back to their old homes. Tiiose who remained and "stayed 
by the stuff" were well rewarded. The following winter 
was a hard one for man and stock, no vegetables of any kind 
were saved and for a farmer's wife to cook a meal without 
potatoes was almost impossible, but we did it the grass- 



128 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

hopper year. One substitute was whole wheat much fried 
brown and eaten with milk. The wheat was taken to the 
mill and ground coarsely as feed for the stock, horses, cows 
and hogs, all seemed to thrive upon it, and I know we never 
tasted more tender or sweeter meat than our hogs produced 
the "Grasshopper Year." But to go back to our own ra- 
tions, from this coarsely ground wheat we sifted the finer 
portions and used it as a variation from the white flour. We 
did not even have corn meal as I remember, there were 
"Yankee" or ''Navy" beans as plentiful then as they are 
now. But the potatoes were the most missed vegetable. I 
remember when we went to take a Sunday dinner with Mr. 
and Mrs. J. B. Read and I saw the dish of mashed potatoes 
placed upon the table I could scarcely wait, and I have no 
recollection of the other dishes which were accompaniments 
to and no doubt all as good in their way as were the pota- 
toes. I do not know where they got their potatoes either. 

We lived through the winter and when spring came 
T\ere ready to begin over. Only there was no seed of any 
kind at hand, and this was the time and place to ask and 
take assistance from any who were able and willing to give 
it; and there those who, no doubt, could tell the story better 
than I. 

We were in fear of a return of the grasshoppers as of 
the horde of young ones which might hatch out, but every 
l)recaution was taken and crops were raised again, and we 
were glad we were citizens of Nebraska. 

James D. Houston 

James D. Houston was born at Tullbardine, Scotland, 
in 1841, and enjoys the unique distinction of being able to 
trace his ancestry, by printed records back to the Romans 
and Britons of the Eleventh century. His ancestry were 
owners of large estates in Scotland, the estates descended for 
for many generations of the same family, and many were 
Barons and Knights, in Knighthoods golden days, and the 
tombs of his ancestors with their letters in marble furnish 
much interesting history of the family, and with all these 
helps Mr. Peter Houston, who spent a season in Scotland 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 129 

had very little trouble iu getting a complete history of the 
family back to the oi-igiii of surnames; some of the names of 
inheritance he found were so long it would be hard to get 
an American, in these swift days, to take the time to say, 
let alone, to learn; for instance we find one that seems to be 
"Reginaldo filio Hugonis de Padvinan Terarum de Kilpeter 
cum terra ilia quam Bodricus & Arkenbaldus, fratres ejus 
tenure. His Testibus; Allano Dapifero Regis Scotiae Wal- 
tero Filiosuo, Roberto Croc Reginaldo de Catheart & mul- 
tisaliis." Which being interpreted, reads: 

"To Reginald son of Hugh of Padvinia, of the lands of 
Kilpeter with that land which Bodrick and Arkenbald, his 
brothers, held. Witnesses to these things Allan Dapifer 
king of Scotland, Walter his son, Robert Croc, Reginald of 
Catheart and many others." 

The Plouston Coat of Arins was a Chevron Checquie, 
Azure and Argent; betwix three Martlets Sable; supported 
by Hinds, and for Crest, a Sand-glass, with this motto, "In 
time." Mr. Houston is proud of his Scotch ancestry, and 
has a Highland suit he, brought with him from his native 
home, with sword and dagger; he uses a carving knife on 
state occasions made from a sword taken by a Banner man 
in a battle with Oliver Cromw.ell in the 16th century, the 
sword was made into carving knives about a hundred years 
ago and the one used by Mr. Houston was given to his 
grandfather and came into his possession, the blade can be 
sprung double without harm. 

Mr. Houston married Mary Lidington, an English lady, 
in England, February 21, 1867, they came to this country 
in 1870, first settled in Wisconsin, and in 1871 moved to 
York County, Nebraska, took up land in New York town- 
ship, and now own a fine farm of 240 acres, well improved, 
and the value of his farm and his present surroundings 
prove the wisdom of his choice. They are the parents of 
six children, five boys and one daughter, now living. 

During the early days in this county they had some in- 
teresting experiences. Built a frame house where their son 
W. B. is now living on Sec. 8 in New York township, hauling 
the lumber from Lincoln. One day while Mrs. Houston was 
home alone, and up stairs, she heard some noise down stairs, 



130 OLD SETTLER'S EARLY HISTORY 

and on going down to see what it was, first saw two big 
Indians peeking in a window, she looked in the other di- 
rection for a phice to escape and there were three big In- 
dians peeking in the other window. MY! But just then 
a neighbor came in and Mrs. Houston would not let him go 
till he pursuaded the Indians to go with him. Mr. Houston 
says that during the great Easter storm several cattle drift- 
ed over the banks of Coon Branch and perished in the snow, 
and a band of Pawnee Indians discovered them and immed- 
iately went into camp and feasted as long as the cattle last- 
ed. 

There were many wild animals; Antelope, Elk, Buffalo 
and Wolves roaming the country when they first settled on 
their farm, but the most interesting experience Mr. Houston 
had with the wild animals, was one night he heard his 
chickens making a fuss, and going out in his night clothes 
discovered a skunk having a feast on chickens. He picked 
up a sythe snath and liit the animal in such a way that it 
landed right on him, he finally killed the animal, but had to 
go off and bury himself a while before Mrs. Houston would 
let him in the house again. 

Mr. Houston says the homesteaders were always will- 
ing to help each other, tells of claim-jumper jum})ing Mr. 
John H. Parker's claim, and Mr. Parker coming to his 
father to get money to prove up to hold his land. News of 
the claim jumping soon spread along the creek, and the 
settlers gathered at the homestead and moved the jumper 
out, goods and all, and he was glad to skip with his life 
from so determined a looking crowd. 

J. B. Meehan 

J. B. Meehan came to West Blue during the summer of 
1871, and was the first squire in the precinct. W. H. Taylor 
being elected at the same time as constable. The first case 
in Squire Meehan 's court was in the summer of '71. At this 
time large herds of cattle were driven each summer from 
Texas north to various points, sometimes to Yankton, S. D., 
and as-ain to points along the U. P. railroad where they 
were shipped east. 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 131 

The drivers were of the usual Texas "cowboy" variety, 
wild and reckless, and always an expert in the use of his 
revolver, an accomplishment he was always willing to de- 
monstrate upon the least provocation. They drove their 
large herds fearlessly over prairie lands and the home- 
steaders farms, paying but little attention to the growing 
crops. A large herd being thus driven over Peter Hellers 's 
field of sod corn, he brought suit against the foreman of the 
drivers and Mr. Taylor was ordered to arrest him. The 
herd liad passed north and being uncertain as to the man's 
willingness to return peacefully, Mr. Taylor took with him 
several men of the neighborhood. They overtook the herd 
men near Beaver Creek, setting his men to keep from sight 
in a ravine, Mr. Taylor rode on alone, . making his errand 
known to the man who, of course, swore and said he saw no 
corn and at first firmly refused to go back, but after talking 
the matter over with Mr. Taylor he ordered the men to camp 
and they started on the return trip. Presently,, he stooped 
and drawing a revolver from his bootleg i)roceeded to 
show his skill in the use of the same, finding Mr. Taylor not 
easily frightened he began to look for other game. Present- 
ly they came to A. J. Corey chopping wood alone on his 
homestead. *' Watch me scare that man," he said and rid- 
ing furiously up to Mr. Corey he pointed the revolver in his 
face and prefacing his remarks with a volley of oaths, cried, 
"what do you want?" Mr. Corey looked at the man for 
a moment and coolly told him he wanted nothing. Re- 
turning to Mr. Taylor the man was then requested to turn 
over his weapon, which he did willingly, then stooping once 
more, drew anotlier weapon from his bootleg, remarking 
"now we're both armed." Fearing danger if the man 
should have the weapon when they came to the other party, 
Mr. Taylor proceeded to argue the case with the man who 
finally i^aid, "we will ride u]) to wliore my w^Mgons are; you 
throw your gun into the wagon first and I will do likewise. 
This Mr. Taylor did and the -man was true to his promise. 

Coming on, tliey rode through the ravine where Mr. 
Taylor's men were hidden, who remained quiet until Mr. 
Taylor and his man had passed, then rode up behind them. 
This incensed the man from Texas who seemed to think 
he had been tricked. He stopped for a few moments, then 



132 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

remarked with the usual oath, "If I'd known this you never 
would have arrested me." But being unarmed and one 
against several he evidently thought it best to show no fight- 
ing disposition at that time. Coming to Squire Meehan's a 
crowd of interested farmers had gathered. This was to 
them an important case. All had suffered from the depreda- 
tions of the herds and now it would be decided how their 
fields should be protected in the future. The man gave 
testimony that he was only an employee of the cattle com- 
pany and the case was dismissed, but it served the purpose 
for coming herdsmen were more careful to avoid cultivated 
fields, and this ended what was, perhaps, the first litigation 
in West Bhie Precinct. Another one occurred in a few 
months wherein a man living near the southeast line of the 
county was arrested for taking a saddle from Mr. Brower, 
who lived in Fillmore County. More than ordinary interest 
was taken in this case from the fact, that Geo. Post, a young 
attorney, lately located at York, had been employed to de- 
fend the accused. Although the day was bleak and cold 
many had assembled to hear the trial, and were surprised as 
well as disappointed when the lawyer informed the squire 
that the case was not in his jurisdiction, the property hav- 
ing been taken from Fillmore County. The man was set 
free and whether or no he took the saddle has never been 
determined. 

J. W. Rush 

J. W. Push was born in Fayette county. Pa., in 1822, 
coming to 111. in 1854, when that state was thought of as 
"away out west." In 1862 at the age of 40 he enlisted in 
the 129 Reg. 111. Vol., going with Sherman in his famous 
march "to the sea," and engaging in active service in the 
last battle of the civil war. In 1872 he again determined to 
try his fortune in a new state, consequently landed in York 
county in June of that year, under the law lately coming 
into effect giving the soldier 160 acres of land. He home- 
steaded that amount on Sec. 18, Twp. 9, R 1, W. When he 
and his wife and children proceeded to make a home in the 
best sense of the word. Mr. Rush had brought with him 
from Pennsylvania, a love for the fruit tree, and his was 
one of the first orchards in the county. Several years ago 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 133 

he moved to McCool and now lives at Blue Vale with his 
daughter, Mrs. S. S. Deffenbaugh, his wife having died 
some years ago. 

Mr. Rush celebrated his 90th birthday recently, and is, 
we think, the oldest homesteader living in the county at this 
time. 

S. S. Deffenbaugh 

S. S. Deffenbaugh with his wife and two children came 
-from Wyoming, 111., in 1874, arriving just a few weeks be- 
fore the grasshoppers made their first destructive visit to 
the homesteaders, this little army, no doubt, had often rest- 
ed on the plains of York county, when their sustenance 
was only greens and the bark and leaves of the few trees 
that grew only along the rivers, but now conditions were 
changed, delicious corn and vegetables were awaiting them, 
and it took only a few hours for the devastating army to 
destroy all that the hopeful farmers had in store for the 
the coming 3'^ear. 

That was one of the dark pictures of Homestead Life. 
It meant suffering for many fathers and mothers who had 
sacrificed much for their children, and now perhaps, they 
must hear them cry for food, and here allow me to say that 
such would have been the case more frequently if it had not 
been for the relief sent from the East; but even this visit 
from a destructive enemy did not discourage Mr, Deffen- 
baugh and his worthy companion. They had come west to 
get a home; the spirit of progress and enterprise was a rich 
heritage to them. The beautiful home in which they now 
live, tells its own story, and speaks in stronger language 
than can the pen of the writer of the valiant industrv of 
Mr. and Mrs. S. S. Deffenbaugh. 

Among those who settled along the Blue during the 
summer of 1866 was Nicholas Nye, an eccentric man who 
delighted in being called "Old Nick." Going one day into 
the home of Mr. Ong, he found no one home but Grandma 
Ong, quite an aged lady. "Madam," he said, "did you ever 
hear of the Old Nick?" "I certainly have," she replied. 
"Veil den, here you see him," he said, in his quaint Penn- 
svlvania Dutch accent. 



134 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

Mr. Nye came from Philadelphia with the Fouces. and 
homesteaded ou Sec. 10, R. 3, W; the farm uow owned by 
Mr. Hageiman. 

Mr. Nye always claimed that cooking food was an 
unnecessary trouble, and therefore ate his vegetables raw, 
with meat and iish as a desert, in the same condition. 

Hiram Schnebley 

Hiram Schnebley arrived in West Blue in 1873, and lo- 
cated on the same section with Mr. Eush. Mr. Schnebley 's 
coming to Nebraska was purely accidental. AVhen a young 
man living near New Salem. Ohio, he caught the western 
fever everywhere prevalent at that time and joined the 
tide of emigrants pouring into Nebraska and Kansas. Com- 
ing to Lincoln, then nothing but a village; with a future, he 
found his money gone and proceeded to walk westward, ar- 
riving at E. Gilmore's he learned of the one homestead still 
vacant, which, because it was a rough 80, no one had taken 
it. Immediately returning to Lincoln, he filed on the land, 
thus gaining time in which to earn the money necessary 
to homesteading, by working during the summer months 
and teaching school in the winters. He improved his land 
upon which he still lives. 

Mr. Schnebley is known throughout South York county 
by the name of the Berry-man, he having what is probably 
the largest small fruit farm in the county, which he values 
about ten thousand dollars. 

W. K. Taylor 

W. H. Taylor, who had raised a small crop of oats dur- 
ing the summer of 1867 found the same unthreshed in the 
spring of '68. Clearing off a small spot of ground he called 
his neighbors in and proceeded to thresh in a primitive woy, 
that is by putting the oats on the ground and driving the 
horses over it — not much like the steam threshers of today. 
Towards evening two men rode up and informed them that 
they had followed a band of Indians, who had stolen their 
horses, from Kansas, and that the Indians were in camp 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 135 



about one mile east, Tlie men bad run tbeir borses, and 
now tbey wanted Mr. Taylor and bis tbresbing outfit to 
help get their property. 

Knowing it was best for settlers to keep on good 
terms with the Indians, the men hesitated to go, but after 
several more men bad joined the band they proceeded to 
the Indian camp. The men from Kansas were evidently 
used to dealing with the Indians. The leader left all the 
men but the one who had come with him hid in the bushes, 
with orders to remain quiet unless tbey should bear shoot- 
ing, then to be ready for action. The other man was placed 
■with a gun behind a tree and the leader advanced unarmed 
to the camp. Calling the Chief aside he explained his mis- 
sion and demanded his horses. The Chief turned and spoke 
to bis tribe, instantly four warriors came out with bow in 
one hand and an arrow held between each finger of the 
other. This meant fight. The man behind the tree stepped 
out with his gun aimed; this was enough for the chief, it 
frightened him into submission, he ordered his braves back 
and told the men to get their borses. The men in ambush 
were told to watch lest the Indians follow, but no attempt 
was made to do so. 

The Indians who came through the country at this time 
had no desire to have trouble with the homesteaders. Tbey 
frequently passed with horses which they claimed to have 
stolen from the Sioux, and it is supposed that tliej' sometimes 
captured some from the whites. If so, perhaps they were only 
doing what the white men sometimes did with them; onh' 
repeating a lesson toft well learned from their dealings with 
the "Pale Face." 

In the main the Indian tribes who frequented this 
section of the country were honest, and treated the home- 
steaders fairly. 

Levi Dean 

Christmas, 1866, was a great event in the pioneer home. 
No doubt memories of by-gone days, with far away, 
friends, made the people lonely, and somewhat homesick. 
But the children must have their pleasures, and the Christ- 



136 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

mas dinner must be prepared. A fowl for the festive oc- 
casion seemed an absolute necessity, but tlie chickens who 
had made the journey from Illinois, in coops fastened on 
the hind part of the wagon, must not be sacrificed, so they 
were dependent on the wild turkey for the Christmas din- 
ner. 

Levi Dean, (Father of Mr. N. A. Dean of York), had 
come west during the summer and was making his home 
with Elias Gilmore, he was an expert marksman, having 
learned to shoot game among the hills of old Somerset 
county, Pa., and to him the family 'looked for the Christ- 
mas turkey. Early on the morning of December 24, he 
took his gun, an old fashioned rifle, and started in pursuit 
of his game. Soon finding a large flock of turkeys, he shot 
and killed two birds with one bullet; we mention this fact 
because we think it has never been excelled, and rarely 
equaled in the county, even by the modern sportsmen with 
their improved guns. Thus the Christmas was a success. 
Other delicacies may have been absent, but the turkeys 
were the one important factor. The old dugout decorated 
with wild berries gathered from the timber; with the bright 
fire in the huge fireplace, took on quite a festive air. The 
candy brought from Nebraska City, for the children supple- 
mented by taffy made from the sorghum that had been 
brought from Illinois, made the children happy, and the 
families of J. R. and Elias Gilmore remember this "First 
Christmas in Nebraska" as a happy one. 

Mr. Dean did not lose his reputation as a hunter after 
that Christmas feat was accomplished and shortly after- 
wards he killed a wild cat, the only one the writer ever 
saw, and perhaps the only one ever killed in York county. 
It was a magnificent animal, symmetrical in form, and 
beautiful in coloring. Christmas time also brings to us a 
memory of the first Indians we ever saw. Soon after the 
holidays a band of Indians camped west of the house; the 
coming of the Red Men had been the event most dreaded 
by the children. We had heard Indian stories, gazed on 
Indian pictures until even our dreams were colored by 
visits from them. Father had gone to Nebraska City for 
supplies thus adding new terror to the situation. "There 
comes an Indian, crossing the river on the ice," someone 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 13 7 

said, mother with a pale serious face went to the door, 
determined to show hospitality even to an Indian, Even 
now, in thought, we can see our youngest brother, W. C. 
Gilmore, as his chubby form disappeared under the bed, 
while we were trying to decide if it would be better or 
more safe to hold on to our mother's dress skirt or follow 
our brother, but finally decided that the dress skirt or 
mother's presence offered the most protection. The Indian 
proved to be an intelligent squaw who could talk English 
fairly well, and our fear of the Red Men was overcome to 
such an extent that we enjoyed their frequent visits there- 
after. Although their custom of entering the house unan- 
nounced often frightened the women folks. In the absence 
of J. E. Gilmore at one time during that winter, his wife 
and two small children and Mary Gilmore, now Mrs. A. 
G. Corey of Fairfield, Nebr., were alone, suddenly the win- 
dow was darkened, and a big warrior Chief was calmly 
looking into the room. Seeing that he was observed he 
opened the door, walked in and sat down by the fire. No- 
ticing a butcher knife on the table he asked for it — of 
course his request was granted — then he took out a whet- 
stone, and began carefully to sharpen the knife. The wo- 
men were badly frightened, but knew it was best to remain 
in the house. After getting the knife in a satisfactory con- 
dition he went to the mirror and proceeded to cut the 
whiskers from his face. This was his way of shaving. 

Elias Gilmore 

In 1865 Elias Gilmore in company with his eldest son, 
Jacob Rush Gilmore and Wm. Taylor left Livingston 
county, 111., for Nebraska, traveling overland with team and 
wagon. They were delayed at Sidney, Iowa, for some 
weeks while waiting for the ice on the Missouri riv^r to 
become sufficiently strong to drive over, consequently, did 
not arrive in York county, until the latter part of Decem- 
ber. Leaving the old Freight Road at the Fouce Ranch, 
they followed a dim wagon track westward along the Blue. 

Finding John Anderson and his family already located 
near the eastern line of the county; coming west they ate 
Chrismas dinner in camp on section 6, range 1, just north of 



138 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

the river from where the K. P. Camp is now located; then 
locating their land, returned to Nebraska City, homestead- 
ing the same Jan. 1, 1866. Then once again driving across 
the country to the new homes began the work of improv- 
ing them. Their nearest P. 0. was Camden, 25 miles away. 
They spent the winter in a small dugout near the river, 
surrounded by Indians. Mrs. Taylor remaining there alone 
at one time, while J. R. Gilmore again made the trip to Ne- 
braska City, from which place Elias Gilmore returned to 
Illinois. 

This proved to be a very fine winter until the 14th 
of February, when they were visited by a regular blizzard, 
the snow completely covering both house and barn. In 
April, J. R. Gilmore, wife and little daughter Ella, now 
Mrs. S. J. Button, of Davis Creek, California, arrived and 
to them was born, June 3rd, 1866, their second daughter, 
Lily M., now Mrs. J. E. Hunt of Bayard, Nebr. 

Elias Gilmore had shipped to Nebraska City, meat, 
flour and such farming implements as were needed in the 
new country. During the summer of 1866, David Bussard, 
A. J. Gilmore, Chris. Hollock, A. Decius, Fernando Mc- 
Fadden and Jerry Stanton, came froin Illinois and located 
along the river. Jerry Stanton having homesteaded the 
land upon which McCool is now located. David Bussard 
was one of the first County Commissioners, and A. J. Gil- 
more was for some years blacksmith for the entire county. 

November 3, 1866, Elias Gilmore with his family ar- 
rived, having brought 14 head of cattle, 6 head of horses 
with him, and afterwards buying two small hogs from a 
ranchman on Salt Creek, southeast of the present city of 
Lincoln. This was the beginning of a stock industry that 
has yielded an abundant harvest. The winter of 66-7 was 
a very severe one, with an immense fall of snow. Food 
must be hauled from Nebraska City. Prairie fires had des- 
troyed the already limited supply of hay. Those who re- 
mained on their farms during this winter had a hard time, 
but crops were exceedingly good the following year. This 
giving encouragement to the somewhat discouraged ones. 

A description of the dugout in which the Gilmore fam- 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 139 

ily lived for a few years will not be amiss, as it is only from 
the pages of history that this kind of a house will be known 
to this and the coming generations. Dug into the hillside 
near the river with front built of logs, the bank growing 
deeper toward the back until it was almost seven feet, 
upon which a few more logs were placed. A floor made of 
hewn slabs, smoothed, sometimes called 'puncheons' the 
roof was also covered with the same, over which a few 
inches of dirt was thrown, a huge fire place in the next with 
the chimney built of sod, plastered with mud. Rough boards 
overhead made a low sleeping room for the men. This 
house was 24x16 ft, in size, and was in truth a home for 
many land seekers at that time. '69 found many settling 
along the river, and also prairie lands were being taken, 
the timber being used for fuel, and sometimes corn stalks 
were utilized for the same purpose. 

This was a very wet summer and the dirt roof failed to 
keep out the rain, a new house became necessary, Mr. Gil- 
more had raised an abundant crop both of barley and buck- 
wheat, the latter was first taken to the Camden mills, con- 
verted into flour, then hauled to the city and sold for $11.00 
(eleven dollars) per hundred. The barley also taken to 
Nebraska City, brought $1.75 per bu. 

The wagons were then loaded with lumber for the new 
house, this being, we think, the first frame house in the 
county. Native trees taken to Milford and sawed into 
rough lumber was used for the work. The pine lumber 
bought in Nebraska City costing there $90.00 per thousand 
feet. The building consists of an upright part, 24x14, with 
a 16 ft. ell, and is yet in fair condition on the farm now 
owned by Boss Gilmore. Shingles for the school house in 
Dist. 1, were brought from Nebraska City, and the first 
school opened in April, 1870, with Lizzie Gowery as teach- 
er. This district in later years was annexed to Dist. No. 7, 
and thus lost its identity to some extent. During the sum- 
mer of '68 a postoffice was located at McFadden, and a year 
later the Old Blue Valley P. O. opened with J. R. Gilmore 
as P. M. Mr. Gilmore also run a general store until 1873, 
when he sold out to the firm of Creech & Armstrong, who 
built the old stone house yet standing in 1874, having then 



140 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

to liaul the lumber from Lincoln only. Social and religious 
life was not neglected in those early days. The young 
people from the Fouce ranch to Mr. Waddle's homestead in 
Hamilton county, were well known to each other and fre- 
quently met to enjoy a country dance with a zeal unknown 
today. Perry Caldwell a U. B. preacher, living on a home- 
stead in Saline county, -rode horseback to his appointments, 
and in 1864 organized a class in the home of David Bus- 
sard. This class has had an uninterrupted history and yet 
meets in the Bethel church, which was built in 1879. Rev. 
S. Menny, Ezekiel Evans and Elder Kilroe organzied the 
Christian church in 1872. This congregation met in the 
school house until 1883, when their present church house 
was built. J. W. Rush, whom we think, is now the oldest 
homesteader living in York county, drove through from 
Illinois in 1872, locating on sec, 12, range 1. Mr. Rush is 
a veteran of the civil war and will soon celebrate his 90th 
birthday. 

Hospitality was everywhere in evidence in the days of 
which we write. Doors were never locked; white man and 
Indian could alike walk in unannounced, the latter often 
frightening women and children very much. 

Albert B. Chatterton 

Albert B. Chatterton was born in Philadelphia, Penn- 
sylvania, November 1st, 1857. Came with his parents to 
Nebraska in October, 1865. His father, Henry Chatterton, 
in December of the same year, homesteaded a quarter of 
land in section 8, township 9, range 1, in York County. 

Here Albert grew to manhood, working on the farm 
in the summer and attending school in the winter, in the 
first schoolhouse built in the county in District No. 1. 

In the fall of 1875 he went to Battle Creek, Michigan, 
where he attended college for two years, after which he 
returned to York County where he farmed and taught 
school. 

December 16, 1881 he was married to Anna E. Shan- 
non, they lived on the old homestead for about two years 




A. B. ( HATTEKTON 



Settled in West Blue, Spring of 1866, now (Mty 
rierk. 



OF YORK COUNTY NEBRASKA 141 

when with his wife and little daughter moved to Cheyenne, 
Wyoming. Mr. Chatterton rnn a grocery store in Cheyenne 
for about two years, when he sold out his business and with 
his family returned to his father's old homestead in York 
County. 

In the spring of 1892 he moved with his family to 
York, which has been his home ever since. 

Martin Poizin 

In the fall of '69 Martin Poizin drove from Milwaukee, 
Wis., and homesteaded on the divide between the river and 
Beaver Creek, on section 4. This family began their pio- 
neer life with great misfortunes. While building his house, 
Mr. Poizin with his wife and seven children lived in the 
house with Charley Scholtz, a German who was then liv- 
ing alone on his homestead. The house being completed in 
February, Mr. Poizin started to move, no bridges being on 
the river. He intended to cross on a ford on Henry Chat- 
terton 's farm. The snow was going early that spring, the 
river was high. Mr. Poizin was not aware of danger, and 
drove into the swollen stream, the wagon overturned, fam- 
ily, horses and goods were floating down the stream. For- 
tunately Mr. Chatterton was nearby, and someway heard 
their cries and came to the rescue. The youngest child, a 
little boy about two years old was drowned, and the house- 
hold goods badly damaged. 

Mr. Poizin was an industrious man and soon had his 
little farm improved. In the spring of 1873 he drove to 
Lincoln with a load of wheat, arriving late in the evening. 
He proceeded to buy his supplies in order to start honie 
early the next morning. The streets were not lighted a6d 
Mr. Poizin fell into an excavation on street, between 8th 
and 9th streets, and received injuries from which he died 
in a few days after returning home. Thus leaving his wife 
and children to face the problems incidental to a pioneer 
life alone. 

By economy and industry they have been successful 
and are among those who have done a part in making the 



142 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 



York County of today possible. Many states have con- 
tributed to the county, thus bringing in different ideals 
for every state sends her people into a new land with the 
impress of herself upon their character. 

From Wisconsin also come the first settlers along the 
Beaver Creek. A. G. Corey and R. Clark drove from Ke- 
koshin, Wis., during the summer of '68. They, in common 
with all who came at that time were looking for land with 
timber and water, so located near the creek. Mr. Clark 
left Nebraska some years ago, and Mr. Corey is now living 
at Fairfield, Nebr. 

Isaac Ong 
(Along the Blue in 1866-7.) 

Isaac Ong, with his family came from Illinois in the 
fall of '68. He also homesteaded on sec. 18, near McCool. 
Mr. Ong proceeded to dig his house into a bank, as was the 
custom. The summer of '69 was a season of much rain, 
great heavy rain storms that brought floods of water down 
the ravines, and also demonstrated the fact that the Ne- 
braska farmer must provide a better roof for his house than 
a few slabs covered with dirt if he would keep things in 
the dry. 

Mr. and Mrs. Ong were awakened one night by a rush- 
ing of water at the door. Soon the house was covered with 
twQ feet of water, they sat on the beds watching for coming 
events. Mr. Ong had brought him from Illinois, a decoy 
duck; as it was the custom to stow many things not in use 
under the bed, tliat decoy duck was placed there. The water 
ran high, when out from under the bed the duck came 
swimming serenely around, apparently perfectly at home. 
This time the water having come from a rain storm, quick- 
ly subsided, leaving only a very muddy floor which, being 
of Mother earth was sometime in drying. 

Mr. William Ong, quite an aged man had also come 
west with his son. He was the first squire in York county 
and did quite a business in the matrimonial line, in fact, 
with Judge Moore to issue the license and Squire Ong to 
perform the ceremony, south York county people began 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 143 

to think this was the most opportune time for beginning the 
new home life. 

Dentists and doctors were absent for some years, but 
people did have the ague and tooth ache, the first must be 
cured by patent medicine or endured for long weeks, and 
it was usually endured. Of course people could go to Mil- 
ford, where lived a doctor, to have a tooth extracted, and 
so the tooth ache was also endured. 

Mr. Levi Dean had a very painful tooth, one of the 
kind that keeps jumping, for days and for weeks he had 
no rest. A big swede by the name of Peter Johnson was 
living with Mr. Dean. He was a jolly fellow, full of jokes 
and persuaded Mr. Dean to allow him to pull the tooth with 
a pair of bullet molds. Of course, a local anesthetic was at 
that time an unheard of thing, even by professional "tooth- 
pullers" and Johnson had but one idea, and that was to get 
the tooth out, he was much stronger than Mr. Dean, he 
knew he could hold him and extract the tooth at the same 
time. He put that bullet mold into the tooth with a grip 
firm as steel. Mr. Dean tried to scream. He kicked and 
rolled onto the floor, but that swede was bound to conquer, 
the tooth came at last, but Mr. Dean always thought that 
the cure was worse than the disease. 

During the summer of '69 Dr. Dewese located on a 
homestead near Mr. McFadden's and was for many years 
the family physician for the people. During the fall and 
winter of 70-71 the typhoid fever became prevalent, sev- 
eral deaths occured, and many families were afflicted. 
Everyone was glad to have in the community a doctor so 
competent as was this kind unassuming Dr. Dewese, who 
made long trips over the prairies regardless of the storms, 
and very often with no prospects of any fee. He was truly 
a doctor of the people and for the people, in full sympathy 
with their sufferings and privations. 

William D. Purcell 

William D. Purcell came to York county, September, 
1870. There was only one frame store 10x12 ft. here then. 



144 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

lie went back to Lincoln, to work, not being able to find any 
laud then to homestead. He had two friends who had home- 
steaded the southwest quarter of sec. 24, township 11, 
range 2, west. They relinquished their right in his favor 
and he homesteaded it in the spring of '71. Moved out in 
September into a sod house 10x12. In December with a 
foot of ice on the floor they put down straw with carpet 
over it and lived very comfortable, keeping one boarder. 

The next spring he built a sod house on his homestead 
which was 12x24 and lived there through the grasshopper 
raid and big April blizzard, had a nice field of corn shoot- 
ing for ears when the grasshoppers came, like a great black 
cloud by night and left it not a foot high. They took ev- 
erything but sweet potatoes and rutabagas and potatoes. 
He had to drive to Lincoln for everything to live on. In 
the April storm had to take the cow, chickens and turkeys 
in the house. However, we were a happy family, one baby 
was born November 11, 1871. 

Jerry Stanton 

The long cold winter of 1866-7 with the deep snow 
leveling the entire country into a white unbroken plain, 
was a lonely one to the two homesteaders in what is now 
McFadden township. Jerry Stanton and his son-in-law, 
Fernando McFadden, who had located near the present 
location of McCool, during the preceeding summer. 

Mr. Stanton was so commonly called *' Uncle Jerry," 
that we can hardl}^ recognize him by any other name. His 
dugout (house and stable) were dug into the bank just 
north of the road that now comes into McCool from the 
east; probably near where Mr. Wright's poultry yards are 
located. Mr. W. H. Taylor was visiting Uncle Jerry when 
the snow began to melt. One night they were awakened by 
the sound of rushing water, and soon discovered that the 
river had risen to such a height as to make it impossible to 
remain in the dugout. Uncle Jerry's furniture was not of 
the kind that would be greatly injured by the flood. His 
bedding and provisions could even be carried on to a higher 
plain, but he had something more valuable than furniture 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 145 

Stacked in the corner of his home, and that was several 
bushels of red wheat, which he had recently purchased 
at the "Mills Ranch" near the present town of Row, Nebr., 
l>aying two dolhirs per bushel for it and hauling it about 
sixty. miles. That wheat must be saved, it represented 
money and labor and spoke prophetically of coming wealth. 
The river ran rapidly but the men worked heroically. The 
wheat was loaded into the wagon, provisions and bedding 
were piled on top. Daylight did not reveal a promising 
landscape. Every creek and ravine had become a rushing 
torrent — to cross the river to McFadden's was impossible, 
to go east to Gilmore's was also dangerous, as the swollen 
creek could not be crossed with a wagon. 

They started north after reaching the divide, Mr. Tay- 
lor went east, reaching Gilmore's in safety, while Uncle 
Jerry with the precious burden landed at the old Mill- 
spauch ranch, near sundown, where Mr. John Harris w.is 
at that time living alone, selling a few supplies to tlie 
travellers along the old road. 

A bountiful yield of wheat richly repaid Uncle Jerry for 
his trouble, but the old dugout was so nearly destroyed that 
he soon built a nice little log house. Uncle Jerry was a 
true nobleman, he loved company, and his mind was a store- 
house from which he could draw many on interesting tale 
of his trip across the plains to California in the Fifties, and 
the days when he was a ''Waggoner on the Old Pike" in 
Pennsylvania. Truly a country should become great, 
whose pioneer age was developed by characters like this, 
and the best monument the present York county could erect 
in honor of the past deeds worthy the memory of such men 
as Uncle Jerry Stanton and his companions, would only be 
a fitting tribute to them. 

Death came even in the ])i()neer age and we think that 
])erhaiJS, the first white woman l)urried in York county was 
Mrs. Eliza McFadden, youngest daughter of Uncle Jerry 
Stanton, and sister of Mrs. Kate Stark who now resides 
in McCool, a sweet delicate young woman who was be- 
loved by many. Her death occun-ed in November, 18(i8, 
having been sick many months with tuberculosis of the 
lungs. 



146 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

The kindly interest of the early settlers in each other 
was evident from the fact that often during her long illness 
many went from Beaver Crossing to Mrs. McFadden's 
home to help care for her. Neighbors were few, doctors 
and nurses far away, but those kind-hearted pioneers were 
so incessant in their care that the sick one wanted for 
nothing. On a bright November afternoon the funeral ser- 
vices were held. The pine casket had been made lovely by 
sympathetic hands, and as the November sun was sinking 
in the west, friends carried her tenderly from the home she 
had helped to rear, and laid her to rest. The old house has 
long since become a thing of the past, but the traveler 
who crosses the river on the old McFadden bridge can see 
a little grave on Mr. Kountz's farm, just south of the river. 
This marks the resting place of Mrs. Eliza Stanton-McFad- 
den, the first among that great number to pass away. 
Women of whom we think, with a becoming reverence for 
their sacrifice and toil, has given to us the beautiful country 
of which we are so proud. 

Sometimes in thought we erect a granite monument on 
which in letter of gold we can behold the names of the wo- 
men of that age. The Mesdames Henderson, George, Dixon, 
McFadden, Bussard, Hollock, Deemfe, Gilmore and Ander- 
son; but the monument is not needed, their names cannot be 
forgotten, for they did their part so well that their lives 
are inseparately woven into the history and character of 
York County. 

H. W. Hoffmaster 

H. W. Hoffmaster was born in Jeiferson County, Vir- 
ginia, September 17th, 1853. He remained with his parents 
until the spring of 1876. His father, John W. Hoffmaster, 
who died in Benedict some years ago, was in the Confeder- 
ate army, under the great chieftain, Stonewall Jackson, and 
so it was that the young Horace saw much of the move- 
ments of the two armies in the Valley of Mrginia. First 
the Grey and then the Blue, would sweep up the Shenan- 
doah Valley leaving death and destruction in its wake. 

Mr. Hoffmaster came west to Ogle County, Illinois in 
the 5^ear 1876, where he stayed but three years, coming to 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 147 



York Coinity, Nebraska in 1879. Here he purchased 80 
acres of land on the southwest quarter of section 20- T. 12 N. 
range 2, W. now lying in Thayer township. 

In 1882, he returned to his old Virginia home and 
brought away his bride, in the person of an old-time school- 
mate, Miss Alice 0. Albin, and here he has lived happily 
ever since. 

In 1897 he sold his farm and bought the residence of 
S. P. Striker in Benedict, and has been one of the prominent 
figures in this community for the past sixteen years. In 
his earlier years among us, he was a thresher, and is credit- 
ed with having consumed more tough old chickens than any 
other man in the county, and always seemed to thrive on 
the diet. 

He has lived to see the old sod-house disappear, and 
the land increase in value from $5.00 an acre to $200.00 
per acre. This he considers to be the most wonderful 
thing in his experience in this state. He has a family of 
six grown children, having lost two in infancy. And here 
it is no more than just to him that we should say that he 
has reared as nice and respectable lot of young people as 
is to be found anywhere. As long as he lived on the farm, 
he was kept in the office of school director. In the great 
McKiegan year he made the political mistake of his life 
by running on the republican ticket for supervisor of 
Thayer Tp. After the ballots were counted, it did not ap- 
pear that he had been running so you could notice it. 

For two years he had the key to the strongbox holding 
the cash belonging to Morton Township, and will likely 
hold this position as long as he cares to. Like all good men 
he has one weakness — he does love a good joke, and there 
is never a day passes over his head that he does not rake 
up something to be used in keeping his old neighbor, the 
P. M. in mind that H. W. Hoffmaster is yet among the liv- 
ing. 

William V. Powell 

The subject of this sketch was born at an early age in 
Fayette County, Ohio, March 20th, 1836, on a farm near the 



148 . OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

present county seat, Washington Court house. Mr. Powell's 
grandfather was a Welchman who came to this country 
many years ago, and finally located in Virginia, where his 
father, John Powell was born and reared. Mr. Powell's 
father and possibly his grandfather moved to Ohio in the 
last century, where his father married a German girl by 
name of Polly Miller, and William was the last of six 
children, he being the only boy. When about one year of 
age he lost his mother, and really never knew a mother's 
loving care, but had the good fortune to be taken by an ex- 
cellent family, that of Hugh Kankin, with whom he lived 
until he was 14 years of age. At that age he ventured out 
into the big world to do for himself still making his home 
with Mr. Eankin when out of employment. When Powell 
had reached the age of 13, Mrs. Rankin, (her husband had 
died) sold her farm in Ohio, and removed to a farm near 
Peru, Indiana. At the age of 15 he got employment as an 
engineer in a steam sawmill, and worked at this vocation 
until the breaking out of the Civil War. On August 25th, 

1861, he was mustered into Company A, 39th Indiana Vol. 
Inf., Col. T. J. Harrison, with Orris Blake as Captain of 
his company. 

He participated in the battles of Mumfordsville, Shi- 
lob, Berryville and Stoneriver or Murfreesboro, as it is 
best known. This great battle was fought December 31, 

1862, and January 1st, 1863. There was a heavy cold rain 
falling the first day and night, and the exposure at this time 
was too much for many of the boys and they sulfered from 
bad colds and pneumonia. Among those who went down 
with pneumonia was Mr. Powell, who was a very sick man 
for weeks, and when once convalescent was discharged as 
totally disabled, and it was a close call for him as he did 
not recover from the effects of this illness entirely for ten 
years. On reaching his home near Peru, Ind., he found 
himself just in time to hear his funeral sermon preached at 
the country church. He had been reported killed at the 
Stone-river, and his old friends at home were about to do 
the last honors to his name. They were very glad to change 
the sermon to one of thanksgiving for his safe return. 

Mr. Powell's health improved so slowly, if indeed, it 
improved at all, that his physician advised him to go fur- 



OP YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 149 

tlier west into a higher and dryer climate, and so, he moved 
to Iowa, stopping>in Jefferson County, near the little town 
of Batavia. He was so much helped by the change (this 
was in August, 1863) that by September 20th, 1864, he 
had mustered up courage to marry. The bride was the 
comely widow, Mrs. Sarah A. Marlowe, whose husband had 
died in battle at Prairie Grove, Arkansas. Mrs. Marlowe 
had one child, a little girl, Edith, who lived with Mr. and 
Mrs. Powell until her marriage to Edward Radley, and was 
well known to all the old settlers in northern York county. 

For the first eight years of his married life, Mr. Powell 
farmed in Iowa, but in 1872, in company with J. H. Daggy, 
he came to York county, and homesteaded the northeast 
quarter of section 6, in town 12, range 2, in Thayer town- 
ship. Mr. Daggy selected the N. W. quarter of the same 
section. They returned to Iowa and making sale there, 
packed up what they cared to keep and loaded their fam- 
ilies into covered wagons took to the road leading to York 
county, where they arrived about Nov. 25, 1872. 

Mr. Powell rented a farm of the late Captain J. B. 
Read, who though a Confederate Veteran, i^roved to be a 
good neighbor and friend. During the following winter, 
the neighbors took Powell and Daggy with them to the 
Platte river, some thirty miles to the northwest, for loads 
of wood. It was one of those trips that one of Mr. Daggy's 
horses broke loose in the night. Hank heard the animal 
making tracks away from their camp and whiningly com- 
plained to Bill, "There is that dratted old fool of a Jim- 
horse, he is going straight back to Iowa, and will swim 
the Missouri river and snag his fool-self to death, and 
then what will I do for a horse to put in my crop with.'* 
Old Jim, however, did not go far but returned to his mate, 
and he was a glad sight to Daggy, when he went out the 
next morning. 

The one event that remains the clearest in the mem- 
ories of the old settlers is the Great Easter Blizzard of 
April 13-14-15, 1873. For three days the storm was so 
severe that Mr. Powell was unable to reach his stable and 
care for his live-stock. He expected to find them all dead, 
but upon reaching the stable after the storm had some- 



150 OLD SETTLERS' -EARLY HISTORY 

what abated on Wednesday afternoon, he found them 
alive and not much the worse for their long fast. 

After the snow had all gone Powell and Daggy built 
sod-houses and moved upon their own land in June, 1873. 
They had put in a little wheat and a little sod-corn, which 
yielded very fairly, and they were much encouraged, but 
the following summer the Grasshoppers came down upon 
Nebraska, and cleaned up the corn and all the garden 
stuff, and that was the blow that "almost killed father." 
The "Hoppers" laid millions of eggs in the ground and 
this looked as if it were not possible to raise anything 
another year. One Sunday during the fall, Mr. M. Sover- 
eign and familj^ were visiting with the Daggy 's, and Milt 
and Hank were walking out over the place, they stopped 
and made an estimate of the number of grasshopper eggs 
to the square inch, the number was near 4,000 to the square 
inch. 

This settled the matter in their minds. The next 
week they pulled back for Iowa, but on counting the eggs 
over there, they found as many if not more, and so it was 
the next spring found them both on their Nebraska claims 
again. The "hoppers" came twice more, but did not 
injure us so badly as in 1874, and in a few years all had 
thrown off the grasshopper scare, and we have not seen 
them since. 

Mr. Powell is the father of eight children — all of them 
living — and now having passed the three score and ten, 
he is taking life easy in his comfortable little cottage in 
Benedict with his good wife at his side. 



Wray — Le Count. 

Charles LeCount, whose French ancestors settled in 
this country in colonial times, was born in New York 
State, June 9, 1827. Amanda Jane Littlefield was born 
in Vermont, August 20, 1834. Her grandmother, Lois 
Stark Littlefield, was a relative of General Stark, and 
members of the family served in the Green Mountain and 
Ticonderoga campaigns of the Eevolutionary war. 




AKTIH H a. WK.W 

Probate Judse of Voi'k ("ounty, York, Nebraska. 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 151 

Charles LeCount. and Amanda Jane Littlefield were 
married in Dodge County, Wisconsin. Four children were 
born to them: Adelaide A. (born July 17, 1855), John C, 
Charles A., and Laura M. The family moved to York 
County, Nebraska, in 1869, and homesteaded on section 
24-10-1. Afterwards, Charles LeCount moved to York and 
engaged in the hardware business. He was elected a mem- 
ber of the town council, and served as chairman of the 
board during the early temperance fight. Some of the 
sessions of the council lasted all night and the women 
brought the men their breakfasts in the morning. Char- 
les LeCount stood firm for temperance and was one of 
those who led in the fight to make York a clean city. He 
was also treasurer of the York School district for many 
years and laid out the addition to the city of York which 
bears his name. In 1885 he sold his business and settled 
in the south. He and his wife died in Waycross, Ga., 
aged 79 and 77 years respectively. 

His daughter, Adelaide A. LeCount, was educated in 
the common schools and at Doane Academy, Crete, Nebr. 
She taught school in York County and was married to 
William Wray March 18, 1875. William Wray was born 
in Janesville, Wis., February 3rd, 1852. He was the third 
son of John Wray (a stone mason, born in England) 
and Hannah Glendenning Wray (born in Scotland). At 
the age of fourteen he was apprenticed and learned the 
blacksmith trade. When 20 years of age (inl872) he 
came overland to Nebraska and established a shop of his 
own in the east part of York County. He moved his business 
to York after his marriage and worked continually at his 
trade until his sudden death, which occurred October 20, 
1906 while at work in his shop. He was a good workman 
and a man of exceptional qualities of mind and heart. 

Charles LeCount Wray, the oldest son of William and 
Adelaide A. Wray, was born in York, Nebraska, January 
22, 1877. He graduated from York High School in June 
1897, and completed his education at York College, the 
state University, and Northwestern University, He began 
teaching in the country schools of York county, later became 
principal of the Utica schools, then assistant in York High 



152 OLD SETTLER'S EARLY HISTORY 

School, and is now teaching in the scliools of Salt Lake 
City. 

Arthur G. Wray, the second son of William and Ade- 
laide A. Wray, was born in York, Nebraska, March 14, 
1880, and graduated from York High School, in June 1898. 
He won the state high school declamatory contest for York 
in May 1898. Afterwards studied law and attended the 
Baptist College at Grand Island, making his way by teach- 
ing in the preparatory department and boarding himself. 
When twenty years of age he passed the bar examination 
before the supreme' court. Although the youngest in a 
large class, he was in a close race for first place. The 
supreme court withheld his certificate until he was of 
legal age, and he continued in college in the meantime. 
A year later he began active practice of the law in York 
and was in partnership with Merton Meeker and Frederick 
C. Power. He held positions under appointments of the 
state senate and the supreme court in 1905 and 1906, and 
was elected judge of York County in 1907. Re-elected in 
1909, and again in 1911, and is now serving his third term 
as county judge. He was married June 30, 1909, to Miss 
Clara R. Gifford (a graduate of the class of 1898 Y. H. S. 
and one of the teachers in the York schools). They have 
one boy, Merton Gifford Wray, born December 10, 1911. 
In 1912, Judge Wray was elected chairman of the first state 
convention of the progressive party; a delegate at large 
to the national convention at Chicago, August 5, 1912; and 
represented Nebraska on the national platform committee 
of the progressive party. In June 1913, he was elected 
a trustee of Grand Island College, and the first president 
of the York Church Federation. 

William B. Wray, the third son of William and Adelaide 
A. AVray, was born "at York, Nebraska, June 23, 1884. He 
did not complete his high school course but left school to 
learn a trade. He moved to Cass County and is now in 
business for himself at Elmwood, Nebr. He married Miss 
Myrtle Gustin of that place, and they are the parents of 
three boys: Bruce, Arthur G., and Wallace W. 

Esther J. Wray, the only daughter of William and Ade- 
laide A. Wray, was born in York, Nebraska, September 




:MK. AM) >!HS. P. J. RICH 

Early Settlers in Arborville Township 



OF YORK COUNTY. NEBRASKA 15iJ 

21, 1893. She is now completing her high school course 
and makes her home with her mother in York- 
Philip Ruch 

Philip Rnch was born in Strassburg, France in the 
winter of 1855. When bnt a boy of fifteen he decided to 
heed the solicitation of an older brother in America and 
also leave the home land. 

After a storm tossed voyage lasting eighty-eight days 
he was finally landed in New York, March 4, 1856. A 
stranger in a strange land, weary and disappointed that the 
brother did not meet him. He had grown weary of waiting 
for the vessel so long overdue and left the city, bnt the 
same kind hand of Providence that has many times since 
protected him placed him among friends who gave him 
work and helped locate his brother in Buffalo. From here 
he worked his way westward until in the spring of '61 he 
was working on a farm where the city of iVlpha, 111., now 
stands. When word reached the farm that Lincoln had 
called for 75 thousand volunteers, withput a moment's 
hesitation he threw down his ax and said "I am going." 
Accordingly in May, '61 he enlisted for three years in 
Co. D., 17 111., where he served until the battle of Vicks- 
burg. Here he was wounded in the left side a little above 
the region of the heart. As soon as he was able he was 
given a furlough and sent home. He was only down but 
not out for before the wound was fairly healed he had 
reinlisted for three years more or until the close of the 
war. At this time his regiment was consolidated with 
Co. E of the Eighth, 111., where he served until he was 
mustered out in May, 1866. Some of the important battles 
in whi<'h he participated were the battles of Fredricks- 
town, Ft. Donaldson, Shiloh Corinth, Mobile, Spanish fort, 
and many others. After receiving his discharge he returned 
to Illionis and went to work on the same farm from which 
he enlisted. He was married Januarv 14, 1868 to Miss 
Mary E. Calkins of Viola, 111., where they lived until 1872, 
when they decided to take Greeley's advice and ''Go west." 
Late in the fall he hitched a span of well matched iron 
grays to a covered wagon and started' for Nebraska, finally 



154 OLD SETTLER'S EARLY HISTORY 

locating a quarter section on Section 8 in the northwest 
part of York county. After filing his homestead papers 
he drove back to Illinois to stay until spring. Again in 
February he started overland for his Nebraska homestead, 
crossed the Mississippii and Missouri rivers on the ice 
and traveled for days with the thermometer at 15 degrees 
below zero. On reaching the homestead he at once began 
preperations for the dugout, hauling what lumber he used 
from Fairmont, the nearest railroad station at that time, 
and wood for fuel from the Platte River, then he drove 
back as far as Plattsmouth to meet the wife and children, 
a son and daughter. Reaching the homestead once more 
just the day before the memorable April Blizzard. This 
was a trying time, but not so heartbreaking as when the 
grasshoppers literailj^ devoured, everything a few years lat- 
er. Another son and daughter came to bless this union. The 
younger daughter was called to her last resting place when 
she was about 23 years of age, The younger son has been 
living on the old homestead in a substantial farm house, 
built many years ago to take the place of the old dugout. 
Since Mr. and Mrs. Ruch moved to their home in Bradshaw, 
where they now reside, their daughter living near them 
and the oldest son lives on a farm near Arborville. 

H. C. Kleinschmidt 

York has no more loyal citizens and no truer lover than 
H. C. Kleinschmidt, the veteran merchant. He has lived here 
since 1871 when he came as a boy in search of health. He 
was in at the beginning and knows York as it has been 
and as it is now and it suits him, even though it has faults. 
By accident pure and simple Mr. Kleinschmidt was led into 
the land of reminiscense the other morning and though he 
will probably be surprised to know that some of the things 
he said have found their way into print he will not regard 
the fact as a breach of confidence when he realizes how deep- 
ly interesting the tales of other days are to the generation 
of later comers to Nebraska. 

Mr. Kleinschmidt has a good memory for things which 
happened man}^ years ago. He recalls vividly the experien- 
ces of his childhood when his father, a minister in the Ger- 




MK. AM) Mils. H. (". KI.KIXSCHMIiri 

Oldest Residents in York 



OF YORK COUNTY. NEBRASKA 155 

man Methodist church, was obliged to travel a four* weeks 
circuit leaving his wife and children alone in a little home 
on the banks of the Missouri river in Missouri. He remem- 
bers how beautiful the woods were and how full of game, 
and the deer that used to come to the house at night and 
gaze in at the candles standing lighted by the windows. 
He remembers how when five years old he, with his brother, 
was lost for two days and two nights in the forests near the 
great river and wandered cold and hungry until found by 
their distracted parents. With- such a pioneer bringing up 
it is no wonder that as a young man Mr. Kleinschmidt 
sought a home on Nebraska prairies. In the fall of 1871 he 
and his partner, Mr. Bramstedt, paid twenty-five dollars to 
the South Platte land company for a lot on what is now the 
west side of the square. There the young men erected a 
two story frame store building. This stood about midway 
in the block. The lumber was hauled from Lincoln. It cost 
$60 a thousand and the price of hauling it to York' was $12 
per thousand more. Later the same material could have 
been purchased for $25 per thousand on the ground, but Mr. 
Kleinschmidt found that settlers were regarded as an easy 
mark by dealers at the sources of supply in those days. The 
land office and Mrs. Wilson's millinery store were other 
buildings on the street with the new general store and the 
county court house was a sod building located west of where 
the First National bank now stands. J. H. and F. O. Bell 
kept a store on the Hannis corner too. 

There proved to be more trade than money in the new 
country. People were obliged to eat and be clothed whether 
they had the where-with-all or not. The new firm had the 
goods and let them go to supply need, taking in return what 
they could get. When Mr. Kleinschmidt wants to indulge 
in day dreams he speculates as to what he would do if he 
had the $17,000 which he estimates he donated towards the 
support of the first settlers of York county. 

"I loaned one man the money to square up with Uncle 
Sam for his claim," he said. "Now he owns five quarters 
of York county land and I am still selling prunes." 

But Mr. Kleinschmidt does not seem to regret the money 
or the help he gave in those days. The people were grate- 



156 OLD SETTLER'S EARLY HISTORY 

ful and the spirit of helpfulness and brotherly kindness was 
alive. The neighbors knew each other's joys and sorrows 
in a much greater degree than is possible now and every- 
body was sociable and friendly. On the arrival of a strang- 
er from that indefinite place known as ''the east" the 
business men and residents in the little town were wont to 
gather about the new comer and give him a hearty welcome 
without questioning too closely into his past. When 
trouble came everybody joined hands and kind hearts 
found ways of showing sympathy. 

The people did not have money to spend for luxuries 
then. Mr. Kleinschmidt bought a box of oranges in the 
early summer of 1872, thinking that the settlers would en- 
joy them as a "treat" for the Fourth of July. But half 
that box of oranges spoiled because the demand was so 
light. One kind of fruit never failed to sell. Dried cur- 
rants were a staple. The grocer bought them by the barrel. 
The homesteader took them out by the dollars worth. Cur- 
rant pie and currant sauce appeared on the tables of all men 
from the northern to the southern limits of the county and 
everybody liked currants. 

In 1877 Mr. Kleinschm^idt built the cottage on north 
Lincoln avenue where he now lives. When he bought the 
land on which his home was placed he paid at the rate 
of five dollars a lot. He does not want to sell his home, 
but if he did, the price would be a trifle higher. During 
his forty one years in York Mr. Kleinschmidt has had ex- 
perience in the merchandise business, in banking and as 
deputy county clerk. He has had a hand in the making 
of the community and whether he ever gets all the credit 
belonging to him for his share in the good work or not he 
is satisfied with results, and when he goes away from York 
for a visit declares he is always glad to get back. 

David Henderson 

David Henderson, one of the sturdy pioneers of York 
county, came to Nebraska in the year 1866 in company with, 
his family and located in the extreme south west part of the 
countv. 



r 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 157 

He was a native of Scotland, born 1813 in Pertli-sliire, 
often referred to as "the fairest country in all Scotland." 
When a youth he served an apprenticeship of seven years, 
as cabinet maker, and like Adam Bede, "became a work- 
man of skill." When nineteen years of age he went to 
Liverpool, England, and worked with the large firm of 
Miller and Blakie. In 1837, was marrired to Helen Brown 
of Glasgow Scotland. The three eldest children; John, 
Mary and Janet, were born in Liverpool. In the year 1844, 
in company with his brother-in-law, John Brown, and 
others, he emigrated to America. They settled in and near 
Janesville, W^is., where he took contracts for buildings, 
leaving many land marks. The times offered some induce- 
ments to buy land. He then bought a farm in Green county. 
Wis., where he lived until coming to Nebraska. His chil- 
dren, Agnes, Robert and Nellie were born in Janesville; 
Elizabeth in Green county. 

On being questioned why he came west so late in life 
he might have said, "how far the strings of love do pull 
us." His son-in-law, Daniel George, was preparing to go 
west. This meant a separation of the family as Mrs. George 
and her sister, Janet, were soon to follow. 

Soon the farm was sold and preparations were made for 
the long journey. He, the most eager to start. Five fam- 
ilies were soon on their way, crossing the Missouri river 
in a ferry boat. The last of June found them camped at 
West Mills, near Camden for a few days rest and recrea- 
tion. Here they spent the first 4th of July in Nebraska. 
Soon the men of the party made a trip farther west, leav- 
ing the freight road and following the Blue river. Here 
they found well known early settlers who kindly helped 
them locale clniius where wood and water were plentiful. 
Nel)raska City being the nearest land office, it was necessary 
to make a return trip to secure their land. This being ac- 
complished, they resumed their journey, via., of the Jack 
Smith and Jack Stone ranches, since made historic. After 
traveling some distance west of these places they left the 
freight road and went south west, over trackless prairies. 
No bridges in sight! Fording streams became a pastime. 
When near the close of a hot July day, the travelers sighted 



158 OLD SETTLER'S EARLY HISTORY 

trees, and soon the camp fire was lighted for the night." 
"Under our own vine and fig tree." 

After this, frequent trips were made to Nebraska City 
and Brownville for the purchase of provisions and stock 
for the new farm. Soon a hewn log-house of no mean pro- 
portions was built and by the 5th of December all were 
comfortably housed. Autumn weather was beautiful as it 
always is in Nebraska. Strolling bands of Pawnees were 
frequent visitors in their bright picturesque garb, riding 
fleet footed ponies. It made a sight at once novel and in- 
teresting. Never harmful or troublesome, and were really 
missed when they came no more. The following spring 
began the realities of opening up the soil, and planting 
trees. Civilization began to dawn after the advent of a 
few more families. 

The Rev. Davis, a Baptist minister and old friend 
from Montecello, Wis., preached the first sermon in the 
new log house. The latter became a hostellery for all. 
From far and near, came the tide of imigration, all were 
made welcome if not comfortable. First school was kept 
in a small house belonging to K. D. Copsey and taught by 
Mrs. Jarvis Chaffa. David Henderson built the first frame 
school house with a promise of help by the neighbors. Sun- 
day school was held in the houses, people attending from 
a long distance. Mrs. Henderson, though never quite re- 
concilled to the idea of bringing her family to the frontier, 
was ever ready to lend her time and talent for the good of 
the Young people. Her hearty greetings and kindly ways 
enlivened many occasions. 

She made firm friends of people in search of new 
homes and often, as David's teams were the only ones avail- 
able, they made long pilgrimages with them to locate some 
new homesteader. 

Suffering and hardships were unknown, trials and en- 
barrassments were many. He came quite well equipped for 
farming; six good horses, money enough to tide him over 
for a few jenrs. For an example of the high cost of living, 
Robert and the present Mrs. E. D. Copsey went to Porcu- 
pine station for the mail and to bring a fresh supply of 
groceries. A small store was kept by two brothers by the 



OF YORK COUXTY, NEBRASKA 159 

name of Higgins. They bought a sack of flour which cost 
nine dollars, and a piece of very dark complexioned bacon, 
which the less sagacious brother said "had been kept on 
the roof of the sod house," and for which they paid 40c 
per pound. 

Often such men as F. A, Bidwell, Fred Roper, and 
Moses Sydenhom sojourned with them, partaking of their 
hospitality — such as it was — and gave a helping hand in 
organizing her beloved Sunday school. At one time the 
late H. T. Clark of Omaha, when passing through the 
country gave her the first S. S. library. 

Time changes were rung in and Mr. Henderson in his 
75th year, made a voyage to Melbourne, Australia, to visit 
a younger brother. This seemed to round out and complete 
the last years of his life as he had a pleasant voyage and 
most delightful company. After returning, lived like a pa- 
triarch of old, surrounded by his children and grand chil- 
dren. But it was not long for either to live. They had the 
"courage of their convictions." This was indeed a great 
country which they saw develop beyond their highest 
expectations. 

NELLIE H. YOUNG. 

E. D. Copsey 
In York County 1866-67 

E. D. Copsey was born at Litchfield, N. Y., April 1, 
1841 Came with his parents to Crawford county, Wis. 
Enlisted in the 8th Wisconsin Reg. in '61. Served three 
years; then re-enlisted in a N. Y. regiment where he served 
one year. At the expiration of his service he went back to 
Wisconsin where he engaged in farming for one year, but 
the "call of the wild" was stronger than the broken home 
ties, and in the spring of 1867 with a party of friends and 
their families he came to York County, Nebraska and filed 
on a homestead in the southwest corner of the county near 
the Blue river. Oct. 26th he was married to Janet Hender- 
son, daughter of David Henderson, the senior pioneer of 
that township. From that date begins the story of We, I 
& Co. In addition to our homestead, we bought a quarter 
section of R. R. land at nine dollars per acre on ten years 



160 OLD SETTLER'S EARLY HISTORY 

time, onr first house built of logs was neither roomy or ele- 
gant, but we "buildecl better than we knew," and it soon 
gave place to a commodous and comfortable frame dwell- 
ing, which we occupied for 25 years, and left it with some 
regrets. "Into all lives, some rain must fall." We had our 
share, but on the whole there was more of sunshine than 
shadow. Life did not always flow along like a song, but we 
were young; had strong hearts and willing hands. We had 
reverses; sometimes a little discouraged, but never waded 
so far in the "Slough of Despond" that we could not wade 
back. We were too busy. We did not have the time. Time 
went on, and many of our old frieinds and neighbors fol- 
lowed us, and met with a warm welcome. Strangers came 
and ties of friendship were formed that were only broken 
when one by one many dropped by the wayside. Our four 
children, three sons and one daughter, grew up and are 
following the trail we blazed for them so long ago. I can- 
not close this short bit of history without a word for my 
father and mother. Past middle age when they came here, 
my father went bravely to work to im})rove his land and 
make a home. We younger people little appreciated the fact 
that he was sowing for others to rea}). With the help of his 
two sons, and my younger sisters, a fine farm home was 
built and belongs to the family yet. Mother was very home- 
sick the first year, but the next summer brought her sister, 
Mrs. Waddle and family and other friends. Then it began 
to seem like home. She was happy and contented. Their 
hospitality was only bounded by the size of their house, 
and many were the strangers that were housed and feed at 
their home- Father, mother, one brother and one sister 
have crossed the bar. Five are left of a family of seven 
who came in ^66. "Soon, we too will hear the last strong 
call" and hope to meet them again. After a lapse of forty- 
seven years, we can look back to the time when we stood, 
like children ])laying by the bank of a river, watching the 
golden sand as it floated by but, never realizing that it 
was golden. We, unthinkingly, were making history. 
Other hands are taking up the work where we are laying it 
down, and making York cotinty as it has always been, the 
best county in Nebraska. 

Mrs. JANFl' HENDERSON, COPSEY. 




T. W. SMITH 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA J 6 1 



T. W.Smith 

Thomas William Smith \Yas born at Ormstown, Pro- 
vince of Quebeck, Canada, Nov. V2th, 1853, and immigrated 
to Grundy County, IIL, April 18()9, married Fannie Lincoln 
at Morrison, III., in 1873 and moved to York Countv, 
Nebraska, April 18, 1874, and purchased the N. W. V^ 21- 
9-3 from the B. & M. R, R. Co., and began his pioneer life 
by building a sod house and buying a yoke of oxen, and has 
"grown up with the country" and now not only owns his 
own original farm, but owns 500 acres of improved farms 
in York County, besides one of the best residences in York. 

Mr. Smith has also interested himself in public affairs, 
was a delegate to the first Democratic Convention ever 
held in York County; this convention was held in 1878, 
William Armstrong was Chairman and John Etherly, 
Secretary. The delegates were Elias Gilmore, John P. 
Cook, Ed. Bates, Peter H. Pursel, Josiah Lichtenberger, 
Dick Brabham, Phil Bold, Ben Willis, Bert Campbell and 
T. W. Smith; of the 12 members of that convention only 
three are at this date (May 1913) living, Ben Willis, Ed. 
Bates and T. W. Smith. 

Mr. Smith was a member of the Board of County 
Supervisors 1885 and 1886, and was chairman of the Board 
the last year though a large majority of the Board were 
republicans. 

In 1887 Mr. Smith, G. W. Post and Lee Love bought 
the Blue River Bank at McCool and he was elected Vice 
President and has held that position in the bank ever 
since, and for the last seven years has been a Director in 
the First National Bank of York. 

In 1887 Mr. Smith was employed by the K. C. & 0. R. 
R., in buying its Right of Way through York County and 
it was through his influence' the road was built from Hen- 
derson east to McCool, and he secured the location of the 
village of McCool Junction (the road was first surveyed di- 
rect from Henderson to York). Mr. Smith was the first 
to place the town lots on the market. 



162 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

After the town of McCool was established he moved 
to the place and for 17 years was engaged in the grain 
business, and for 23 years was the popular auctioneer in 
York County, in the mean time he moved to York and in 
1905 was elected a member of the City Council and served 
on the council for two years, the last year, 1906 he ably 
assisted in securing the first paving district for the city. 

In 1909 Governor Shallenberger appointed Mr. Smith 
warden of the State Penitentiary and his administration 
was commended by both political ])arties, he, for the first 
time in the history of the institution, put it on a paying 
basis, and when Mr. Smith made his final report, its show- 
ing of the successful management of the penitentiary 
awakened an interest in other states, and a second edi- 
tion of the report had to be issued to supply the demand. 

Daniel George 

Daniel George was born in Hampshire, England, Nov. 
25th, 1835, and came to America with his father, mother 
and six brothers in the fall of 1839. They settled in Green 
County, Wis. He and his brother grew to manhood in 
what was then a wild new country. They walked four miles 
to school, the school house being a log building; and* as 
lads, drove freight wagons drawn by oxen, hauling lead 
ore one way, and merchandise the other between Chicago 
and Milwaukee. Chicago at that time was a few shanties, 
and the conveyance that met the traveler at the landing' 
on the lake shore, was drawn by an ox. When Dan grew 
to mans estate he followed farming as an occupation. He 
was married to Mary Henderson Dec. 31, 1859 and in the 
spring of 1864 he went with his family to Crawford County, 
Wis., where he had an 80 acre farm of poor hilly clay land. 
He lived there until he enlisted in Co. K 46 Wis- Vol. Infan- 
try. He was honorably discharged in Sept. 1865 and as 
"Uncle Sam" had promised his soldiers a farm, thought it 
a good time to go after it. Accordingly he sold his hilly 
farm, packed his family and belongings into a prairie 
Bchooner, drawn by two yoke of oxen and started out to 
find a new home in the county drained hj the Big Blue 
Eiver, that had been described in letters written by two 



OF YORK COUNTY^ NEBRASKA 163 

brothers, who had gone to Pikes Peak early in the year 
1860. 

The little company of twenty people, six men, five wo- 
men, five children, three young ladies and a lad of sixteen 
years started from the old home in Wisconsin, May 19, 
1866, traveling in wagons drawn by horses and oxen. They 
landed near the site of their future homes in the southwest 
corner of York County, July 8 of the same year. When 
the county was organized, Dan, with his relatives, came 
across the prairie to be at the organization. There were 
no roads and twenty miles seemed farther than twice that 
many over a road. 

He carried his rifle, thinking he might see something to 
shoot, an elk, antelope or deer, and got back home some- 
time during the night following the day of the organiza- 
tion. He lived on the farm "Uncle Sam" gave him thirty- 
six years lived to see the treeless prairies dotted with 
groves and covered with comfortable farm homes, towns 
and cities. On account of failing health he sold the farm 
that he considered too good to rent, and moved to the 
city of York, where he died October 21, 1905, being sur- 
vived by his aged wife and three daughters. 

ROSE GEORGE WRIGHT. 
The girl that came with the oxen and the covered wagons. 

Hon. J. B. Steward 

Hon. J. B. Steward, son of Isaac Steward (who on May 
2 1913 celebrated his one hundredth birthday at Selma, 
California) was born in York County, Pennsylvania on 
April 14, 1850, where he grew to manhood on a farm, at- 
tending the country schools during the winter. Shortly 
before he reached majority he was united in marriage to 
Miss Mary Meads. The young couple saw clearly that if 
ever they were to have a home worthy of the name, it 
would be necessary to go West where land was both cheap- 
er and better, made u]) their minds to lose no time. So, in 
the Autumn of 1870, they came as far toward sunset as 
Columbus Junction, Iowa. Here Mr. Steward worked on 
a farm as a hired man for two years. At this time there 



164 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HIFTORY 

was a stream of "Movers" trekking- across Iowa to the 
Government lands of Nebraska. Again the Stewards con- 
cluded that it would be wise to go West and finally grow up 
with the country. It was now pretty well along in the win- 
ter of 1872, but they loaded up a covered wagon and with 
a cow or two they started "for the promised land." March 
8th, 1873, they halted upon the identical piece of land now 
occupied by Mr. Steward, and which has been his home eve 
since. Here he took otf his covered wagoii-box, and in this 
he lived until his house was completed. On the morning 
of the third day after his arrival, he noticed a wagonload 
of men driving along the west line of the section and going 
North. In an hour or two later, he noticed two wagon 
loads of men coming down from the North and they drove 
onto his land and up to where he was camped. They con- 
stituted the Vigilance Committee, so they said, and he had 
squated on a piece of land that was claimed by another 
man. He must vamoose, and that quickly, for they would 
not tolerate claim jumping. Mr. Steward called their at- 
tention to the fact that there was no filing on this land on 
record at the Lincoln Land office, and he would not va- 
moose a little bit. He was no claim jumper and they had 
not better accuse him of that again. It was plain to these 
gentlemen that they had run against a snag, and they 
changed tunes, now saying that he had best go peaceably 
for none of them would neighbor with him. The change 
was so sudden and so great that J. B. smelled a mice, and 
smilingly told them as tough as it would be to live without 
neighbors, he would try to get along without them, per- 
haps other people would come after awhile who would not 
be so particular. This little speech convinced them that 
Steward meant to stay, and here they hauled down their 
flag and said they might as well all be friends, and one of 
the party sold him a ton of good hay, and getting his pay 
in cash departed in the best of spirits. The facts were that 
a certain family in which* there were four men were 
trying to keep all the land on this section covered up until 
they could legally enter it either as tree claims or ]U'e-em- 
ptions for there was but one Soldier in the family and the 
others could only homestead eighty acres each. 
Strange to relate there never was any further trouble with 
these men, and every one of them became fast friends of 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 165 

J. B. Steward and ko remained as long as they, lived in 
York County. Of course the Steward family had their 
share of grief in the faster storm of xVpril 13, 1873. They 
had been located less than five weeks when this new sort 
of snow storm hit them, and the flour was all gone, no 
cornmeal and not a great deal of coffee left in the can. It 
was starve or eat potatoes, and for four days, John says, 
they had nothing but potatoes, salt and coffee. For years 
Mr. Steward couhl not see potatoes brought upon his table 
without weeping, and even to this day, he regards the Irish 
potatoes as the most sacred thing in the vegetable king- 
dom. 

They prospered as did their neighbors, had their 
pleasures and hardships, and rejoiced in the possession of 
a spot that they could call "home." 

But a cloud fell upon that happy little family, the wife 
and mother sickened and died. You who, today, are pos- 
sessed of every comfort that money can buy, little realize 
what that death meant to a man with three small children 
living in a sod house on these, then bleak prairies. Mary 
Steward was buried on the plat of land now owned by 
Dist. No. 43 in Polk County, but was removed later when 
the Benedict cemetery was laid out. 

A year later in 1878, Mr. Steward was married to Mrs- 
Margaret Bobo who for all these intervening years has 
been a faithful wife to him and a good mother to all of his 
children. There were three children by the first wife and 
four by the second. Two of his first family have died, but 
all of the second wife's children are yet living. 

Like most ambitious men, Mr. Steward thought he 
would like a flyer in jDolitics and so when McKeighan ran 
for Congress in 1890, Mr. Steward made the race for the 
legislature and was elected to the lower house from York 
County. Here he served on the Finance, Public Lands c^' 
Buildings, Penitentiary and Miscellaneous Committees, 
making a good record. One hitch at politics satisfied J. B. 
that it was no place for an honest man, and he straiglitway 
quit the deal, believing thiit he could make more money on 
the farm and make it easier. In 1892, Gov. Boyd appoint- 
ed him as one of the eight commissioners to represent Ne- 



166 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

braska at the Chicago Exposition, and for two years he 
gave much of his time, serving as one of two men who 
built the Nebraska building. As soon as the State building 
was completed, the Chief Commissioner for Nebraska sent 
out appeals to the various counties to send in Exhibits of 
their farm and manufactured products. Not more than 
half a dozen counties had responded until Chief Com. 
Gameau realized that the building was too small by half 
and called his entire committee in to consult as to what 
should be done. He was in favor of sending out circular 
letters to the other counties that there was no more room 
and that they should not send their exhibits. This he 
thought, would be all that was necessary. Understanding 
human nature, Mr. Steward here craved a few minutes to 
make his say,which was to the effect that such a letter would 
surely bring an exhibit, and a large one, too, from every 
county in the state. The majority of those present agreed 
with Mr. Steward and thanked him for saving their lives. 
It was plain that the only course was to not say a word to 
anyone about lack of room but take chances on any more 
coming in. This proved to be the solution of the matter 
for not another county reported. In 1908, Mr. Steward 
was elected President of the Nebraska Mutual Life Ins. 
Company, now located at Hastings, Nebraska., which he had 
helped organize in Stromsburg some ten years before. He 
has been twice re-elected to this office, and has had the sat- 
isfaction of helping to build up one of the most creditable 
of our State companies. Mr. Steward yet lives where he 
unloaded his emigrant wagon in March, 1873, and if he at- 
tains the age of his good old father, will be with us nearly 
forty yers. Here's hoping that he will. 

Robt. Henderson 

Robt. W. Henderson came to Nebraska with his parents 
in 1866 when but a youth. Having left schools and boy- 
hood companion far away he began a new life on the fron- 
tier. Owing to the very different surroundings, time 
seemed to pass away very quickly- His experience proved 
quite conclusively that all learning is not found in colleges 
and schools. The one boy on horseback was often found 




Raised the 



ROBERT HENDERSON 

first crop in York Precinct. 
Jack Stone Rancli, 1866. 



on the 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 167 

available for making hardy trips back and forth to Milford 
and Camden for the uijiil until arrangements could be made 
with the stage drivers to bring it from Porcupine Station, 
a distance of twelve mile. For some time he served in 
the capicity of guide to the traveler and friend to the wo- 
men and children. Game was plentiful; elk, antelope and 
wild turkey. On two different occasions l)uffalo were seen 
from the door. The winter of 1867 D. George, R. Fairbank 
and Robt. when on a hunting tour shot a fine elk near where 
the town of Stockham, Neb. now is. A noteworthy in- 
stance when neighbor Chaffees fine young team, strayed 
away and he had searched in vain for days with the help 
of other men, until strength and means were nearly ex- 
hausted. As a last resort he asked Robt. to assist. They 
quickly mounted horses and started in a northeasterly di- 
rection and after reaching what is now called the Baker 
farm, near York, they struck a trail made by a lariet rope, 
drawn by one of the horses. This formed a slight ridge in 
the snow which they followed as far as the Platte River 
when just at dark they found the horses grazing through 
the snow Here they started a camp fire, intending to spend 
the night by it, when finally a light glimmed faintly in a 
window some distance away. They again started out, on 
the way to the house. Here they found two young men 
living, who bade them come in, and they were given com- 
fortable lodging and a place for their horses. This was 
near where Central City now stands. The next day they 
reached home, tired and hungry, but victorious. Later on, 
when funds ran low, it became necessary for the young 
men to find employment on the Platte. On one occasion 
James Cummings, Robt. Waddel, Robt. Henderson and an 
"old timer" by the name of Harris, wishing to cross the 
Platte near Grand Island when the water was very high, 
they constructed a raft which was to carry their clothing. 
John Harris being a good swimmer, engaged to pull the 
raft by a rope held by his teeth, they to follow after by 
holding on behind. They were stranded on an island for 
several hours. Cummings saw his boots float away in the 
waters of the Platte never to return. However, they suc- 
ceeded in reaching shore, none tlie worse for their exper- 
ience. When the Sioux made the memorable raid on the 
Campbell ranch ho went to the Platte on horseback. He 



168 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

saw wliile there the desohited homes of settlers. A mother 
lying dead, her infant child playing in her blood. Another 
occasion while herding cattle for Fred Evans of Grand Is- 
land it was rumored that a great gathering of Indians were 
on the Blue river. He became anxious for the safety of the 
folks at home and abandoned work and started alone on 
horseback, well armed to be sure, thirty-five miles of tree- 
less, trackless prairie, momentnrialy ex]iecting to meet a 
band of red men but on reaching the settlement, found that 
several hundred Indians had been there, but were gone- and 
had been friendly to the whites. Among them being the 
great chief, Peta-le-sharu. As farms grew more productive 
he turned his attention to stock raising, buying and ship- 
ping, as well as feeding, being his chosen vocation- He 
has filled offices of trust and honor, both County and State, 
with credit to himself and constituents. . Here through pri- 
vations and deeds of noble daring, men found character 
of high standard, they need no other monument than these, 
their works, the wonder of the West. 

Mrs. Cap. J. B. Read 

For answer to a request for my experience during the 
pioneer days in York county, I will say, it was not that 
we were intending to profit by Horace Greeley's advice to 
*'Go West and grow up with the country" that brought 
us to Nebraska. We drifted in, as it were, intending to go 
on to California. We drove from Omaha by w^ay of Fre- 
mont, over the Prairie from which the grass had recently 
been burned, and late one Sunday afternoon in April, 1870, 
we stopped at D. T-. Moore's and asked for shelter for the 
night. It set in for a good rain, which continued for three 
days and during that time my husband, J. B. Read decided 
lie would settle here. We pre-empted one hundred and 
sixty acres three miles north of York, built a two roomed 
sod house, a sod stable, dug a cave and had a well dug. 
AVe had to go to Lincoln for our housekeeping outfit and 
I tried every place while there, to buy feathers enough for 
two i)illows, but not an ounce could I find, so when I re- 
turned home I made hay i)illows and a hay bed which we 
used until we could get our bed and bedding shipped to us, 
which was a long tedious task, owinn" to our lack of mail 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 169 

facilities and so far from a railroad. We received our mail 
at Beaver Crossing and only once a week, and it was there 
we sent our letters to be mailed. Upon one occasion when 
I was so anxious to get that precions bed and bedding here, 
I found myself without letter paper, but a letter must be 
sent, so it was written on light brown wrapping paper. 

Prairie chickens were numerous and my husband, be- 
ing a good marksman, we enjoyed many a feast on wild 
game. And here, I will relate my own experience in the 
* 'chase." One day, seeing a deer enter a ravine and her 
fawn by her side, I was filled with a wild desire to capture 
that baby deer. So I started out with a dog, and when I 
came to the ravine the old deer bounded away over the 
Prairie with the dog in pursuit. After searching the weeds 
for a while I saw this little deer had slipped out and was 
going in the direction its mother had gone. Then came a 
race that I realized must be a "home stretch" from the 
beginning and I threw off my bonnet and bent every energy 
to the task. When within a few yards from it the little 
animal seemed to realize its danger and dropped in the 
grass to hide. I took it home and it became my compan- 
ion in many rambles over the prairies. 

When we had been here a year, grief came to us in the 
death of our three months old babe, our tirst born. No 
coft'in could be ]U"ocured nearer than Plattsmouth, so we 
sought the service of a carpenter, and that it might not 
look so much like a pine box, I sent a broad cloth cloak to 
cover it, but there were no tacks with which to fasten the 
cloth in place; none to be found nearer than Seward. Pins 
were cut in two and by crossing them made to do service. 
Another difficulty arose when time to close the coffin, 
there were no sci-pws with which to fasten the lid. Judge 
Moore took one of his doors from the hinges that the screws 
might be used. 

After paying for our hundred and sixty acres, we 
homesteaded an eighty two miles farther north and virtu- 
ally began again at the bottom of the ladder to build, break 
prairie and plant trees. 

Then the grasshop]iers came, but we were better pre- 
pared to meet the disaster than in previous years. AVe had 



168 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

saw while there the desolated homes of settlers. A mother 
lying dead, her infant child playing in her blood. Another 
occasion while herding cattle for Fred Evans of Grand Is- 
land it was rumored that a great gathering of Indians were 
on the Bine river. He became anxious for the safety of the 
folks at home and abandoned work and started alone on 
horseback, well armed to be sure, thirty-five miles of tree- 
less, trackless }3rairie, momentarialy expecting to meet a 
band of red men but on reaching the settlement, found that 
several hundred Indians had been there, but were gone- and 
had been friendly to the whites. Among them being the 
great chief, Peta-le-sharu. As farms grew more productive 
he turned his attention to stock raising, buying and ship- 
ping, as well as feeding, being his chosen vocation- He 
has filled offices of trust and honor, both County and State, 
with credit to himself and constituents. . Here through pri- 
vations and deeds of noble daring, men found character 
of high standard, they need no other monument than these, 
their works, the wonder of the West. 

Mrs. Cap. J. B. Read 

For answer to a request for my experience during the 
pioneer days in York county, I will say, it was not that 
we were intending to profit by Horace Greeley's advice to 
"Go West and grow up with the country" that brought 
us to Nebraska. We drifted in, as it were, intending to go 
on to California. We drove from Omaha by way of Fre- 
mont, over the Prairie from which the grass had recently 
been burned, and late one Sunday afternoon in April, 1870, 
we stopped at D. T-. Moore's and asked for shelter for the 
night. It set in for a good rain, which continued for three 
days and during that time my husband, J. B. Read decided 
he would settle here. We pre-empted one hundred and 
sixty acres three miles north of York, built a two roomed 
sod house, a sod stable, dug a cave and had a well dug. 
We had to go to Lincoln for our housekeeping outfit and 
I tried every place while there, to buy feathers enough for 
two pillows, but not an ounce could I find, so when I re- 
turned home I made hay ]ullows and a hay bed which we 
used until we could get our bed and bedding shipped to us, 
which was a long tedious task, owing to our lack of mail 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 169 

facilities and so far from a railroad. We received our mail 
at Beaver Crossing and only once a week, and it was there 
we sent our letters to be mailed. Upon one occasion when 
I was so anxious to get that precious bed and bedding here, 
I found myself without letter paper, but a letter must be 
sent, so it was written on light brown wrapping paper. 

Prairie chickens were numerous and my husband, be- 
ing a good marksman, we enjoyed many a feast on wild 
game. And here, I will relate my own experience in the 
''chase." One day, seeing a deer enter a ravine and her 
fawn by her side, I was filled with a wild desire to capture 
that baby deer. So I started out with a dog, and when I 
came to the ravine the old deer bounded away over the 
Prairie with the dog in pursuit. After searching the weeds 
for a while I saw this little deer had slipped out and was 
going in the direction its mother had gone. Then came a 
race that I realized must be a "home stretch" from the 
beginning and I threw otf my bonnet and bent every energy 
to the task. When within a few yards from it the little 
animal seemed to realize its danger and dropped in the 
grass to hide. I took it home and it became my compan- 
ion in many rambles over the prairies. 

When we had been here a year, grief came to us in the 
death of our three months old babe, our first born. No 
coffin could be procured nearer than Plattsmouth, so we 
sought the service of a carpenter, and that it might not 
look so much like a pine box, I sent a broad cloth cloak to 
cover it, but there were no tacks with which to fasten the 
cloth in place; none to be found nearer than Seward. Pins 
were cut in two and by crossing them made to do service. 
Another dit^'iculty arose when time to close the coffin, 
there were no sci'ows with which to fasten the lid. Judge 
Moore took one of his doors from the hinges that the screws 
might be used. 

After paying for our hundred and sixty acres, we 
homesteaded an eighty two miles farther north and virtu- 
ally began again at the bottom of the ladder to build, break 
X)rairie and plant trees. 

Then the grasshoppers came, but we were better pre- 
l»ared to meet the disaster than in previous years. We had 



170 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

plenty of wheat, fattened two hogs on wheat and raised 
potatoes enough to last all winter and for seed at planting 
time. 

Of the hardships and privations that were the common 
lot of all who came in the early days, I will not write, it is 
too well known to those who stood so loyally together on 
the bleak, bhick waste of the York County of that day. 

MRS. CAP. J. B. READ. 
Alfonso D. Wyckoff 

Alfonso D. Wyckoff, son of Asher and Armarilla 
Wyckoff, was born in Brown County, Ohio, June 17th, 1830 
and in 1838 removed with his parents to Putnam County, 
Illinois, where he spent his early life, being apprenticed 
to a cabinet maker when he was sixteen years of age. He 
joined the early gold seekers making the trip to California 
by the way of the Nicaraugua Route in 1852. The sailing 
vessel on which he took passage on the Pacific being blown 
out of its course, finally put in at Honolulu where Mr. 
Wyckoff remained for six months, afterwards working his 
way to California as ship-carpenter on a sailing vessel 
After working in the mines and at cari)entering in Cali- 
fornia he returned to Illinois in 1855 and spent four years 
in acquiring a collegiate education at Wheaton College; 
he then entered the ministry, and was ordained in the 
Congregational church in 1863. He entered the army as 
Chaplain of the 64th. 111., Vol. Inf., serving until the close 
of the war; returning to Illinois he served as pastor at 
different ])laces until 1872, when his eyesight having failed 
he was com})elled to give u]) the ministry, and after engag- 
ing in the furniture business for a year or two he went 
into the drug business with his brother in the town of 
Chebanse, Iroquois County, Illinois. He moved from this 
place to Roberts, Ford County, Illinois, and from there 
came to York in 1880, purchasing the building and drug- 
store of Dr, W. H. Geer. In 1883 he erected the brick 
building now standing at No. 103 East Sixth Street, which 
was one of the first brick buildings to be l)uilt in the city. 
Mr. AVyckoff retired from active business in 1888, dispos- 
ing of his interest in the drug business to Dr. A. J- Rvan. 




JOHX H. i'AHKKli 

Pioneer Settler of Thayer Townshiu 



OF YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA 171 



He was mayor of the city of York in 1888-1889. Diir- 
ing liis term of office the City Hall was built and the 
system of water works completed. 

Mr Wyckoff was married in 1852 to Lovina Beresford, 
who died in York in the year 1890. His children are Helen 
L Wvckoff, who has been a teacher in the Omaha schools 
for nearly thirty years; W. W. Wyckoff, a well known resi- 
dent of the city of York; Flora M. Cameron, who died m 
1894, and Rilla L. Boynton now residing with her husband, 
C M Boynton, in Kansas City, Missouri. Mr. Wyckoff was 
married to Mrs. Sarah M. McGraw in 1893, and m 1894 re- 
moved to Southern California where he is now living m 
Escondido, San Diego County. 

John H. Parker 

The writer of this sketch was born in Woodford County 
111 May 18th, 1832; in 1846 moved to McClean County, 111., 
with his father, who was an M. D., and who died m 1849 
with cholera. On September 8th, 1859, the writer was 
married to Mrs. Sarah Price Stillwell, the mother of three 
children; two boys and one girl; the boys both having died 
in infancy, the girl (now Mrs. C. S. Hesser) lives m York, 
Nebraska. To Mr. and Mrs. Parker were born seven chil- 
dren, three girls and four boys, one girl died of whooping 
cough at five weeks of age, the others are all living. Mrs. 
Parker died March the first 1901, aged 66 years. She was 
a member of the Christian church and lived a Christian 
life. Mr. Parker enlisted in Co- H. 94th 111. Inft., August 
1st, 1862 and served in the army until August 9th, 1865. 
He' moved to Iowa in the fall of 1865, and in 1868 moved to 
Nebraska and seti/ed on Sec. 34, Town 12, N. Range 2, W., 
April 14th, 1869, where he still resides. At the organiza- 
tion of the county, one precinct voted at his house, there 
were cast in said 'precinct, 71 votes. This precinct (No. 3) 
embraced the entire north half of the county. Mrs. C- S. 
Hesser of York still has the old ballot box used at that elec- 
tion. The writer thinking York was too far away to go 
there for the mail, concluded to have a P. O. nearer, so he 
and Mr. Chancy Akin petitioned for a mail route from 
Seward to Mr. Akins house, asking for three Post Offices; 



172 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

one at a place called Palo with A. H. Rockers as Postmaster, 
one at Parkers, called Thayer with Parker for Postmaster, 
and one at Akins, called Akius Mills with Chancy Akin for 
Postmaster. The petition was granted. When the C- & N. 
W. R. R. was built in 1887 the villiao'e of Thayer was laid 
out and named after the P. 0. nearby. The village has a 
population of 200, bnt is too near York to grow very large, 
is a good business jjoint, has one wat^r mill, two elevators, 
one lumber yard, one flour house, one implement house, 
one drug store, two hardware stores, two general merchan- 
dise stores, one cream station, one butcher shop, one barber 
sho]!, one blacksmith shop, one livery barn, one bank, a 
good depot, good electric light plant, good school building, 
and schools that include the 9th grade. The village also 
has three churches; the M. E. Church, German Lutheran 
and Presbyterian. The village also has a public hall, a 
M. W. A. Hall and the Township Hall is located in the 
village. Our Dr. Douglas looks after our health and we 
think him a good Dr. and a fine citizen. We have no sa- 
loons and our citizens being of high moral character, 
we never expect a saloon. The village has never been in- 
corporated, but there is some talk now along that line. 

• Harvey Pickrel 

Harvey Pickrel was born at Galesburg, 111., Dec. 31st, 
1842. At the age of 20 he enlisted in Co. A., 14th 111. Cav., 
and served through the war, participating in the battles of 
Knoxville, Tenn., Macon, Ga., Atlanta, Ga., Look-out Moun- 
tain and several smaller fights. On returning from the war 
he remained at Galesburg till 1872. He came to Seward 
county, Nebraska, and the same year came to York county 
and homesteaded the N W.. Vi 20-10-1 and owns his old 
homestead together with enough land adjoining to make a 
farm of 400 acres, besides land in other places. Mr. Pickrel 
was always fond of horses, enlisted in the cavalry, and in an 
early day shi])ped into this county more than oOO head, buy- 
ing and selling continually. He engaged in the fine trotting 
stock business and still has some of the best horses in York 
county. Pie, early, made a good race track on his farm, had 
a good speed barn and blacksmith shop, has had great sport 
in racing horses and has enjoyed the sport so well he is 




HARVK I'ICKHEL 

York County Pioneer Horseman 



OF YORK COUNTY, .NEBRASKA 173 

still at it. Says lie lias lost many ^ood race horses, but 
thinks they will come to him in the next world. He raced the 
first horses over the York race tracks, Osceola race tracks, 
and Seward race tracks-; constructed and run the first race 
horses over the David City race tracks. Mr. Pickrel, in an 
early day used Lincoln avenue from the bridge to where the 
depot is for racing. Frank Southworth, an old sport, used 
to join with him in the fun. Mr. Pickrel also fed cattle in 
connection with his farming. His home, in an early day, 
was quite a resort for dances, says the dances drew big 
crowds and they frequently used the barn for dances. Says 
that one night while the dance was going on two Irishmen, 
Dawson and Keefe got filled up a little too much and got 
into a fight over religion, one was a Catholic and the other an 
Orangeman, the fight did not interfere with the dance but 
was a kind of a side show, the fight went merrily on till 
Keefe got licked and the Orangeman wore the ribbon and 
that ended the scrap. In those days they had no money to 
l^ay lawyers so did not appeal to the courts, but fought it 
out. Mr. Pickrel says when the country was being settled, 
he met a woman on the prairie carrying a bucket of watei'. 
He asked her what she was packing water for? She replied 
they had no well, and was getting water for dinner, said 
the nearest well where she got the water was two miles 
away. Mr. Pickrel has retired from active farming and 
lives in his nice home in York, but still owns and oper- 
ates a horse barn, and says he intends to stay in the horse 
business as long as he lives. 

Horton M. Detrick 

Retired farmer, York, Neb., is a native of Wilkesbarre, 
county. Pa., where he was born October 26, 1835, son of 
Jacob and Hannah (Hannis) Detrick both of German line- 
age, and the former a contractor and builder, who moved to 
Iowa in 185(3 and engaged in farming. Horton M. Detrick 
enlisted in the Civil War in September, 1861, in Company D, 
4th Iowa volunteer cavalry. In 1863 he reenli steel in the 
same regiment and served until the close of the war. In the 
last battle of the war at Columbus, Ga., he was wounded. 
He was mustered out at Atlanta, Ga., August 10, 1865. He 
resided in Iowa until the spring of 1870, when he moved to 



174 OLD SETTLERS' EARLY HISTORY 

Nebraska and liomesteaded in York comity. Mr. Detrick is 
a rejnibliean in polities. He served for six years continuoiis- 
ly as a member of the York county board, representing the 
city of York; as a member of the York city council, and as 
postmaster of York from 1890 to 1895 by appointment of 
President Harrison. In 1902 he was elected to the lower 
house of the state legislature from the 38th district and was 
reelected in 1904. During the first session he served as 
chairman of the Soldiers' Home committee, and as a member 
of the committees on jmblic lands and buildings, the judi- 
ciary, and county organization. During the second session 
he served as chairman of the committee on claims and a 
member of the Soldiers' Home committee. Mr. Detrick is 
a member of York lodge No. 35, Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows, and of the G. A. R., Robert Anderson post 32, of 
York. Mr. Detrick was married in Iowa October 25, 1865 to 
Miss Jennie C. Andrews, a native of Vermont. They are the 
parents of five children: Effie E., a graduate of Wesleyan 
University, is now Assistant Registrar in said University; 
Jesse W., who has been in the U. S. Mail service for 13 years, 
is now assistant to Chief Clerk in the Railway Mail Service, 
with headquarters at Los Angeles, Cal.; Estella N., who 
was City Librarian at York for nine years, is now married 
to R. E. Lynds, their home is at Los Angeles, Cal.; Hiram 
E., now of the firm of Jerome & Detrick, Druggists, York, 
Neb.; and Lulu, who was deputy. County Superintendant 
for four years, is now married to M. S. Hargraves. Their 
home is at Alliance Nebr. 

Mr. Detrick is now retired and lives at the coner of 7th 
St. and East Ave., York, Nebraska. 

George F. Corcoran. 

George F. Corcoran, was born at Rockford, Illinois, 
January 13» 1862, and settled with his parents in York 
county in Februrary, 1879. The home place was on section 
27 in what is now Leroy townshi]). Here he assisted on the 
farm for a few years and taught district school. During 
busy times he assisted in the office of the county treasurer 
at different times during the time J. W. Bennett was county 
treasurer, commencing in 1882. Shortly thereafter he 
became interested in the York Democrat and indentified 



OF YORK COUNTY. NEBRASKA 17 5 



with its publication, and in 1886 became its owner, and lias 
been identified with it ever since. 

Was active in the oi'g-anization of the volunteer fire 
department in the city and was for many years its chief, 
and also served as a member of the city council. 

Was appointed Court' Reporter by District Judge Rob- 
ert Wheeler in January IF'92, and served four years, and in 
1896 was engaged in practi?e of law in York, and for a part 
of that year identified with the first national campaign 
of W. J. Bryan for president. 

In January, 1897 was appointed stenographer to Attor- 
ney General C. J. Smyth, and later appointed by him to the 
position of Assistant Attorney General, which position 
lie resigned in 1900 to again become Court Reporter with 
Judge B. F. Good, in which position he remained for eight 
years, and in November 1907 was elected to the office of 
Judge of the District Court of the same district, and in Nov- 
ember, 1911 was reelected and is now serving his second term 
as judge of the district. 

Has been prominently connected with the organization 
of the York Commercial Club, York Chautauqua, the York 
Base Ball club, the Elks, and other similar organizations. 




INDEX 



n 

Banks 4 2 

Benedict 77 

Bradshaw 82 

Baker, D. W 86 

Brown, Julia A 9 4 

Beishline, Daniel 99 

Burns, Martin 100 

Bowers, Mr. and Mrs. George 110 

C 

County Roster 23 

Cost of Pioneering 34 

City of York 41 

County Schools 50 

Congregational Church 5 7 

Church of Christ 59 

Carlson, C. J 125 

Chattertton, A. B 140 

Copsey, E. D 159 

Corcoran, George F 1 74 

D 

Dean, Nathaniel 91 

Deffenbaugh, S. S 133 

Dean, Levi 135 

Dayton, W. E 7 4 

Detrick, Xorton M 1 73 

E 

Early Settlements 6 

Easter Storm 18 

Early History 3 8 

Evnns. Ezekiel 115 

F 

First Term of Court 50 

First United Brethren Church. '. 58 

First Baptist Church 5 8 

First Lutheran Church 61 

First Happenings in York County and York 72 

G 

Grasshoppers 21 

German Reformed. Emanuel's Congregation 60 

Graves, Daniel 9 3 

Gilmore, Sebastian 102 

Gilmore, J. W 117 

Gilmore, Elias 118 

Gilmore, Mary A 122 

George, Daniel 162 



H 

Henderson 7 6 

Hallock, Christian 108 

Harrison, Rev. C. S - - - 123 

Houston, James D -. 128 

Hoffmaster, H. W - 14 6 

Henderson, David 156 

Henderson, Robert -. 166 

I 

Incorporation - 3 9 

Indian Trial 51 

J 

Johnson Nathan - lOi) 

Kleinschmidt, H. C - 154 

L 

Lushton 81 

Lett John : 8 7 

>I 

Methodist Episcopal Church 55 

McCool Junction - 76 

Morgan, Mrs. W. E - 25 

McCloud, William Escridge - 114 

Mysterious Guest — 121 

Moore, Mrs. D. T - 126 

Meehan, J. B - 13 

N 

Naming of York County - - 3 

New York : 44 

() 

Organization - - 12 

Old York Precinct - 3 7 

Odd Fellows 65 

G. A. R 65 

Ong Isaac 142 

Presbyterian Church 5 6 

Post, George Wallace 9 4 

Pioneer Home 119 

Parris, Foster J 126 

Polzin Martin 141 

Purcell, William D 143 

Powell William V ' 147 

Parker, John H 171 

Pickrel, Harvey '. 172 

It 
Robbins, Montroville 106 



Rush, J. W : 132 

Ruch, Phillip .153 

Read, Mrs. Cap. J. B .^ 168 

S 

Sale of Town Lots 16 

St. Joseph Catholic Church 57 

Sovereign, M 89 

Sandall, Chas. M : 9 9 

Stilson, L. D 103 

Sehnebley, Hiram 13 4 

Stanton, Jerry 144 

Smith, T. W 161 

Steward, John B 163 

T 

The Temperance Struggler in the Early Days of York 44 

The Press , 6 6 

The Pioneer Physician ' 6 8 

Taylor, W. H 13 4 

U 

Universalist Church 5 8 

United Evangelical Church 63 • 

W 

Wirt, A. W 9 7 

Wray-LeCount 15 

Wyckoff, Alfonso D 170 

Y 

York County Topography 4 

York County Agricultural Society 37 

York School District 47 

York College : 5 3 

York Lodge, A. F. & A. M 64 




EARLY \KI;K ASK A JIOMK 




CiEO. F. COllCOKAN 

District Judge Fifth Judicial District. Secretary of Old 
Settlers' Association 



